South Kitsap School Board tabs Brian Pickard as new president

In the wake of former South Kitsap School Board president Jeffrey Wilson's resignation, the board's remaining four directors elected a new president during Wednesday's regular scheduled meeting in Port Orchard: Brian Pickard.

Pickard, who was elected to the board in November 2021, was the unanimous pick for president in a vote that included Kate Espy, Megan Higgins and Jay Villars. Pickard had been serving as vice president, a position that now belongs to Villars after a 4-0 vote in his favor.

The four-member board also voted to approve a timeline for finding a replacement for Wilson in District 4. The board will accept applications for the position through May 31 and board members will review applications and select finalists during its June 5 regular board meeting. The board will hold a special meeting June 12 to interview candidates, consider qualifications of candidates during executive session and then select a new director. who would be appointed during the board's regular meeting June 18.

Wilson, who joined Pickard as a new board director in 2021 and served for two years as president, submitted his resignation letter on March 27. He initially told the Kitsap Sun he did not wish to divulge his reasoning behind his decision to exit the board, but has since revealed that harassment and concerns over his and his family's safety emerged during his time on the board and that led to his resignation. Wilson said Wednesday evening that he planned to file an anti-harassment protection order at Kitsap County District Court on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: South Kitsap School Board elects Brian Pickard as new president