Kintzley to serve another term on Kennewick School Board

Heather Kintzley will serve another term on the Kennewick School Board after received nearly 56 percent of the votes counted Tuesday.

Kintzley, an attorney, has served on the school board for eight years. She was challenged by Mike Massey, the general manager for an agri-business.

Kintzley recevied 5,319 to Massey’s 4,257 votes, as of Tuesday evening, or nearly 56 percent to about 44 percent.

Kintzley said before the election that the district has benefited from a high-functioning school board.

Although her challenger was concerned that test scores for third through eighth graders have slipped, Kintzley pointed out in the voter’s pamphlet that 85 to 90 percent of third graders are meeting the district’s reading goals and more than 90 percent of eighth graders are enrolled in some level of algebra. Graduation rates have increased, she said.

The district has invested more than $300 million on construction to provide secure, comfortable and technologically current schools, she said.

Massey said he was inspired to run over concerns that the board had decided to expand its free meal program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 8:22 PM with the headline "Kintzley to serve another term on Kennewick School Board."