Carla Marconi has strong ties to the Grand Coulee

Dam School District, and she is seeking her third term on the school board.

"I graduated from Lake Roosevelt High School in 1973, and all four of my children are also graduates from LRHS," Marconi stated this week.

She has been on the board for nine years, having filled out a year of someone's term before she ran and won an election on her own.

"I started attending school board meetings because I believed that there needed to be more communications between tribal members and non-tribal members," Marconi stated.

That's one of the things she has worked hard on during her present tenure as a school board member.

"I think the district is doing a much better job in communications than it once did," Marconi said.

She thanked Superintendent Paul Turner for going up and meeting with tribal officials on a regular basis, a continuation of a practice started with former superintendent Dennis Carlson.

"I moved to Coulee Dam from Nespelem in 1990 because I thought it would be easier for my kids and their education," Marconi noted.

She cited the need to continue improving communications between the district and the reservation. "I would like to see more communication between staff and tribal members, but it has greatly improved," Marconi stated.

She remembers, when she first joined the board, wondering if she would be accepted since she was a tribal member. "Members of the school board work closely together, and even when we disagree, it isn't personal," she said. "I was accepted and enjoy working on the board. I understand the value of an education."

Marconi works at the Nespelem Community Center.

She stated that the district is making progress on security and student issues and that the district's activities are transparent.

"I think the board needs to continue with its goal-setting and make things happen," she said. "Members of the board get along well, and we see things pretty much the same way."

She is being challenged for her seat on the board by Tammy James-Pino.