Mount Pleasant School alumnus runs against longtime school board member
Jason Thompson vies with Johnny Carver for Position 3 seat

By Clarice Keating, Post-Record staff

A native of Mount Pleasant is running against longtime Mount Pleasant School Board member Johnny Carver for Position 3 in the General Election.

Jason Thompson	Johnny Carver

Jason Thompson, 37, is an alumnus of the small school just east of Washougal in Skamania County. He has two children attending the school.

“I have a vested interest in seeing Mount Pleasant continue to provide an excellent academic and school experience that benefits the children and the entire community,” Thompson said.

His opponent Johnny Carver has served on the school board since 1993. Though he is retired now, Carver worked at the school from 1966 as a bus driver.

“I want to continue to see that these kids get as good an education as the law will allow,” said Carver, on why he’s running for re-election. “I enjoy working with the other school board members and the teachers involved.

Thompson owns his own business in the field of land development. He coaches youth basketball and T-ball in his spare time. His wife Chera is a teacher in the Washougal School District.

“My history of being a student at Mount Pleasant and a lifelong resident of the Mount Pleasant community motivates me to make Mount Pleasant the best it can be,” he said. “Additionally, I’m a very candid and open individual and strongly believe my business experience and community service will be an asset to the district.”

Carver said his familiarity with the work of school board members would best serve the community.

“I’ve put my life into it, and I don’t think there are too many people who have done that,” he said. “For someone to come in and say they can do this or that, there are so many things to know. These law books, they’re knee-high, and for someone to get up there and say, ‘I’ll fix this,’ that’s a bunch of hot air.”

The rural school district, which serves approximately 60 students, came under scrutiny during the past six months after the school board opted not to renew the contract of its long-time secretary/superintendent. This decision was followed by the resignation of two of the school’s four teachers.

During the rehiring process, concerns of parents and community members included a lack of communication and trust among those involved with the school.

Thompson said this criticism was concerning and well deserved.

“Positive changes can occur by updating board policies and implementing training programs for staff and [the] board; treating all parents with respect; having a better working relationship with the staff; and effective and open communication with parents, staff, press and the community,” he said.

Carver said the situation and problems got blown out of proportion.

“We’ve never had really big problems before,” he said. “That stuff was wrong. I think a lot of people heard stuff and added to it, and before you know it, it was a mess.”

Regardless, Carver said the board is in the process of making changes in the financial structure of the school – none of which is being discussed publicly yet.

“We’ll do the best we can to get this thing straightened out,” he said. “I’m sure in time it will be all right.”

The school also faces the loss of its Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act funding, which comprises approximately $226,650 of the school’s $677,558 budget if federal legislators do not renew or extend the law.

Thompson said he feels the school district is not adequately prepared with a plan in the event that the funding source dries up.

“I would like to see the board review the budget and the school reserves, investigate possible savings in outsourcing certain services, and as parents have suggested, look into other non-levy-based fundraising options [like auctions, dinners, plays, car washes and raffles],” Thompson said.

Carver said the school board has established two committees that are working on proposals on how to repair the loss of funds, but he has not yet been briefed on their recommendations.

“We’ve discussed some plans,” he said. “I feel that I don’t really want to think that we need to worry about it [for now]; there’s not much you can do about it.”

Thompson said his number-one priority, if elected, would be to restore trust among the school board, community, staff and parents.
“Making the school board accountable to all parents is of great importance,” he said.

Carver said, if he is re-elected, he would work as hard as he has always worked for the school community.

“Our number-one priority is to give those kids the best education we can possibly give them with what we have to give with,” he said. “I don’t know how you can do any better than that.”