School Board
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Jill Anderson -
Robert Drury -
Kelly Cancialosi - Board Vice President -
Sanjay Pal -
Evan Saint Clair - Board President
School Board Directors
There are five School Board Director Districts on Bainbridge Island, and board directors are elected from those areas.
District 1 • Vice President
Kelly Cancialosi
Term: Through November 2027
Appointed April 2023; elected November 2023
Corporate attorney who owns her own legal practice
Has volunteered in the BISD community and served on various PTO boards
Has one student enrolled in BISD schools
District 2 • Director
Robert Drury
Term: Through November 2027
Appointed October 2025
District 3 • Director
Sanjay Pal
Term: Through November 2027
Elected November 2019; re-elected 2023
Has two children enrolled in BISD schools
District 4 • President
Evan Saint Clair
Term: Through November 2027
Appointed March 2023; elected November 2023
Owner of Journal Menu, a bespoke journal and notebook company serving the wellness community
Former PTO President, Odyssey Multiage Program; former board member, Bainbridge Island Mountain Biking Club
Has worked with various youth-focused national and international organizations
Has two students enrolled in BISD schools
District 5 • Director
Jill Anderson
Term: Through November 2029
Appointed March 2025; elected November 2025
Director of Operations (non-profit)
Attended BISD schools
Has two children enrolled in BISD schools
Student Board Members (Grades 9–12)
The Board of Directors values student representation so that student voice and input are included in the board’s work. At least one student board member attends each board meeting. Immediately before the board votes on an agenda item, student representatives give an advisory vote: pro, con, or abstain.
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Student members will: • Provide student insight and perspective • Serve as a liaison for the Associated Student Body • Report to students about the work of the board and district |
Student members will not: • Attend executive sessions • Hold board offices |
Communicating With the School Board
The board values the public’s suggestions, thoughts and opinions and welcomes you to reach out in any of these ways:
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1Email the board If you email all five board members, they will all see your message, but typically only the School Board President will respond. |
2Give public comment at a meeting Speak during general public comment or after the agenda item on your topic. For in-person comment, sign up at the start of the meeting. For comment via Zoom, sign up by 4 p.m. on the meeting day by emailing Lani Chaffee. |
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3Join a Coffee Chat School Board Coffee Chats are held at coffee shops around Bainbridge Island, usually on the Friday after a board meeting. Check the BISD calendar for details. |
4Invite board members to your group Board members can attend your organization’s meeting to share what’s happening in the district and its goals. Only up to two board members can attend unless prior written notice is provided. |
Open Public Meetings Act
Under Washington State’s Open Public Meetings Act, school board members cannot:
• Engage in dialogue on public comments if the topic is not on the agenda
• Be present at a meeting or event with three or more board members unless prior written notice was provided
How to Make Public Comment
Public comment is an opportunity for you to share what’s on your mind and for the board to listen and learn.
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Sign in Sign in at the start of the meeting, then share your name at the podium (or on Zoom) when called. |
Up to 3 minutes Each person may speak for up to three minutes. A board member will hold up a sign when you have one minute left. |
During public comment, the board listens but does not engage in dialogue or respond at the time. In accordance with state policy, the board’s silence does not signal agreement or disagreement with a speaker’s remarks. The board may choose to incorporate your comments into its discussion or direct the superintendent to follow up as appropriate.
Freedom of speech is an important protection under the First Amendment. Please remember that your words have an impact, and you are responsible for that impact. We ask that you not make personal statements about a student, staff or community member. Help model what a respectful and inclusive community looks like for our students.
Director District Maps
Find which director district you live in. Board directors are elected from these five areas.
Maps With Street Names
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Per School Board Policy 1115, if there is a vacancy on the school board, the remaining board members will fill the vacancy by appointment. The board will appoint one of the candidates to serve until the next regularly scheduled board election, at which time a director shall be elected for the unexpired term, if any.
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Find out which positions are up for election and verify that you can run for the office. You must be a registered voter, live within your school district boundaries and live in the certain director area in which you are running. Check Director Districts here by viewing the District Maps listed on this page. The Kitsap County Elections Office can help verify your eligibility. There is a certain week in spring (usually early May) that you must file your candidacy for the November election. Learn more by visiting Kitsap Candidate Filing.
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The school board values hearing from the public, but this must also be balanced with holding meetings that are reasonable in length and meetings that allow enough time for the school board, superintendent, and directors to handle the necessary business required. It has been our experience that most speakers are able to express their opinions/points of view within the allocated time. If your time is up and you have more to share, please reach out to members of the school board to set up a time for further discussion.
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Public comment is exactly that—your opportunity to provide comment, but it is not a time for dialogue. This is a time for board members to listen and consider but not to respond. Due to rules outlined in the Open Public Meeting Act, the school board cannot discuss matters not listed on the agenda.
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Yes! All regular school board meetings are open to the public, recorded, and posted to Board Docs. Sometimes, the school board needs to call an Executive Session for the purpose of one of the statutorily authorized reasons such as to discuss a legal matter or a personnel issue. When this happens, the regular school board meeting is closed, and the board moves into an Executive Session, which is closed to the public and not recorded. During an Executive Session, the board does not take action. Please refer to Policy 1410 to learn more.
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Yes! Periodically throughout the school year, the school board holds study sessions to dig deeper into a topic, and the public is welcome to attend. However, during these sessions, the public is not allowed to engage in discussion with the board. Board study sessions are also recorded and posted to Board Docs.
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Board members strive to follow the standards outlined by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). The board evaluates its performance annually during a board retreat.