Six contenders are hoping to secure the votes of their constituents when the Lakeland Joint School District holds its school board election Nov. 5.

Running for the Zone 1 trustee seat are incumbent Rena Olmstead of Spirit Lake, first appointed in 2016, and opponent Randi Bain of Rathdrum.

RENA OLMSTEAD

Olmstead has lived in the Lakeland School District for 20 years, where her three children graduated from Timberlake High School. She grew up in Butte, Mont., and graduated from Butte High School. She met her husband of 27 years when she studied environmental engineering at Montana Tech.

After graduating from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, Olmstead attended North Idaho College and graduated with an Associate of Science as a physical therapist assistant in May. She was a small business owner for more than 10 years in Kootenai County and has worked for Eden Home Health as an in-home physical therapist assistant for two months. For seven years, she has been a caregiver for her son, who was disabled in a motor vehicle accident.

Having never filed bankruptcy, Olmstead is a firm believer in fiscal responsibility.

"I strive to always keep the needs of the taxpayer at the heart of all my decisions while trying to keep the district at the highest level of achievement," she said.

Olmstead is again running for the school board because she believes in the vision of the district, she said.

"It is our mission to maximize student learning and ensure every student is growing academically, social-emotionally and behaviorally, every day in every environment," she said. "I feel we are on the correct path to achieve this but still have some work to do to reach all students."

She said the Lakeland area is growing at an unprecedented rate, "and unfortunately our need for facilities is growing as well."

"In Idaho, the only way to build a school is by passing a bond, which lands squarely on the backs of the taxpayers," Olmstead said. "I am hoping to effect change at the state level and find a better solution to build our schools. In the meantime, however, our need is high. We have to find a compromise to fund new construction without causing unnecessary hardships on our patrons. We are currently conducting an online survey and hosting three meetings throughout October to gather patron input to come up with a viable solution. I feel we can find common ground and meet the needs of everyone living in our district."

RANDI BAIN

Randi Bain, has lived in the Lakeland School District for 15 years. Born and raised in Spokane, she graduated from Rogers High School. She earned her bachelor's in business administration with majors in accounting and management from Eastern Washington University. She has been the accounting supervisor for the city of Post Falls for six years. Previously, she spent five years as a staff accountant in the Kootenai County Auditor's Office and another six years in accounting for private companies. She has never filed bankruptcy.

Bain said she's running for the Lakeland School Board "because I have much to offer our community in this capacity."

"I have spent my career gaining the knowledge to make sound financial decisions with taxpayer dollars," she said. "I believe in our responsibility as a community to provide quality education to our children in a safe environment. I want to make sure everyone in our district — staff, students, parents and the community — has a voice and that it is heard."

If elected, Bain said she will work to better the accessibility of information regarding board decisions.

"I bring to this board position: professional expertise, fiscal responsibility, strong ethical standards and a commitment to give my best self to the Lakeland School District."

Shaffer vs. Grissom

Lakeland School Board Trustee John Shaffer of Athol, first elected in 2011, is running against newcomer Ramona Grissom of Athol for the Zone 2 seat. Neither submitted responses to Press inquiries about their candidacies.

TIM SKUBITZ

Running to represent the Lakeland School District in zone 3; are incumbent Tim Skubitz of the Twin Lakes area, first elected in 2008, and his opponent Michelle Thompson.

Skubitz has lived in the Lakeland District for 17 years. Originally from the Seattle area, he graduated from Chief Sealth High School in west Seattle and took some college courses at Gonzaga and Northwestern universities. He is a self-employed owner and operator of five McDonald's restaurants, including the Rathdrum location. He has been with McDonald's for 41 years; it was his first job when he was in high school.

He has never filed for bankruptcy.

"I am a community advocate for public education," Skubitz said. "It's a trustee's job to put the interests of the community's youth first. I am well versed in proper boardsmanship and understand the role of the school board."

When asked what specific issues he'd like to address, Skubitz looked to the future.

"We must continue the discussion of long-range planning — enrollment, facilities and services — and implement that plan," he said.

MICHELLE THOMPSON

Michelle Thompson has lived in the Lakeland School District for more than 20 years. She was born in Illinois and adopted in California, where she graduated from Livermore High School. She is a graduate of North Idaho College and the University of Idaho and she is in the process of applying to Boise State for a master's degree.

Thompson is a paralegal at a local law firm, for which she has worked for more than seven years. She also owns her own business specializing in mediation and court-appointed supervised visitations.

When asked if she had ever filed bankruptcy she responded, "Unfortunately, yes."

"My husband was in a partnership during the time the market crashed that became entangled in an extensively long and costly legal battle, bankrupting us," she explained.

This is Thompson's first time throwing her hat in the ring for the school board.

"I am running for the Lakeland School Board to offer a fresh perspective and facilitate a more unified relationship between the community and the Lakeland School Board," she said. "I am bringing to the table my passion for children, parents, teachers and our community. I believe there is a workable solution for every situation, and I will work for our community to bring solid results for the Lakeland School District."

Thompson said she believes for any school board to function for the benefit of the community, "we need to have fresh perspectives."

"Our community is growing, and our school needs are growing," she said. "These are critical issues faced by our community and the Lakeland School Board. New board members can offer new solutions for the critical issues we face."