PORT ANGELES — Incumbent Port Angeles School District candidates Sarah Methner and Mary Hebert appeared at Noon Rotary’s candidate forum at Lincoln High School’s Wildcat Café, where they discussed their accomplishments and priorities for the district.
Their challengers, Ned Hammar and Nancy Hamilton, did not attend on Wednesday.
Methner, who has served as Position No. 1 director since 2009, and Hebert, who is running for the Position No. 2 seat for the second time, each emphasized efforts to strengthen student programs, expand opportunities and maintain fiscal responsibility during their time on the board. They are each running for four-year terms.
They highlighted the successful passage of levies that have funded programs such as music, sports and counseling. The district’s 30-year plan for upgrading its capital facilities, they noted, includes replacing Stevens Middle School and renovating Franklin Elementary and Port Angeles High School.
The new and rehabilitated schools will open in 2027, 2028 and 2029, respectively.
The district had expanded its Career and Technical Education offerings at a time when other districts have scaled back, Methner said. The hands-on programs give students experience in fields such as construction and robotics.
“I’ve become an advocate for CTE and all that they do,” Hebert said. “They give students opportunities to find a career path. One of the things I’m really proud of with our district is that we want to be sure that students all graduate and that they all have the opportunity to go out into a career.”
Methner said program improvements and changes have benefited students at all levels — from all-day kindergarten to later high school start times.
“The work we’ve been doing has been my life’s work,” Methner said. “Opening three new schools, managing levy funds responsibly and putting money into local projects — this is what voters have entrusted us to do, and we’ve delivered.”
Both candidates acknowledged funding challenges at the state and federal levels that are likely to impact the district. They said they would continue to plan strategically to maintain programs despite limited resources.
They also pointed to community partnerships, such as with the North Olympic Healthcare Network, which provides health care and mental services for students and their families, as key to supporting underserved community members.
On the topic of technology, the candidates said the district is preparing students to use artificial intelligence responsibly while looking into implementing a new cell phone policy.
“We’re going to teach kids how to use AI responsibly,” Methner said. “The future of education is not just what students produce, but how they access and evaluate information.”
Both candidates stressed the importance of community involvement in elections.
“In a town as small as this, every vote matters,” Methner said.
She also addressed confusion surrounding her challenger’s candidacy, saying he had repeatedly changed his mind about running.
“Five times he has been in and out of the race,” she told the audience. “It’s been very hard to convey to voters what’s really happening.”
Reached later by telephone, Ned Hammar said he had officially withdrawn from the race, although he made his decision too late to avoid appearing in the voters’ guide. If he’s elected, he will nonetheless serve, although he would prefer not to at this time.
“I would love to see her elected again,” Hammar said of Methner. “I would consider running in two years and serving alongside her.”
Also reached by telephone, Hamilton said she had participated in every candidate forum and regretted not being able to attend Wednesday’s event. She said she missed the invitation email, which was sent in August and had landed in her junk mail folder at a time when she was focused on a family emergency.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
