Judge: Purdy Can Stay

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A Circuit Court judge has upheld School Board member Bill Purdy’s right to sit on the board. Purdy was being sued by two fellow board members, Flint Fowler and Ron Jackson, and 47 other citizens, including fired Vashon basketball coach Floyd Irons. The lawsuit claimed Purdy was serving on the board illegally and should be removed.

The issue was whether a person can run for the school board if he or she has relatives who work in the district. Two of Purdy’s daughters and a grandson are teachers in the district. A recent change in state law allows school board members to serve even if they have family working in the system. But the school board bylaws still say that is illegal.

Those bylaws have not been amended to reflect the state law. But today’s ruling by Judge Steven R. Ohmer affirms Purdy’s assertion that state law trumps board bylaws.

Had Purdy lost the suit and was forced to give up his seat, Mayor Francis Slay would have appointed his replacement, shifting the balance of power on the school board for the second time in six months.