PORT TOWNSEND — The selection of a project manager for the Maritime Discovery Schools Initiative moves ahead this week with the announcement of three finalists today, followed by a public meeting Thursday in which they will present their qualifications.
“We had some great candidates, and we ended up learning a lot from them,” said Superintendent David Engle about the first round of interviews last week.
“They all had hands-on maritime experience and strong educational backgrounds, and are very excited about developing place-based education.”
In a partnership with the Northwest Maritime Center, the district seeks to infuse all educational programs with maritime elements, increasing the offerings for high school juniors and seniors to offer more specialized instructions for those who want to enter the maritime trades.
Engle said 15 people applied for the position. Five of them were called in for interviews.
Engle said all but one of the candidates live in the local area, while the fifth previously lived in Port Townsend.
Three finalists were selected by the committee but had not been notified of the decision by last week and so have not been identified.
The three candidates will make presentations from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St.
The job is expected to represent about half of a full-time-equivalent position, with the salary based on a $32,000 to $35,000 annual range, Engle said.
Toward the end of 2014, the position will be evaluated and could be expanded to full time, he said.
A target fundraising goal is $750,000, which translates to $125 a year for each of the district’s projected 1,200 students over a period of five years.
About $160,000 in pledges and gifts have been raised so far.
That’s enough to get started, Engle said.
The selection committee consisted of Engle, Port Townsend Mayor David King, Police Chief Conner Daily, teacher Tanya Rublaitus, Northwest Maritime Center Executive Director Jake Beattie and Port Townsend Education Foundation board President Caitlin Harrison.
Engle said the manager will serve as a liaison between the schools, the community and the maritime center.
“The manager will connect all the partners with the schools to develop the maritime framework,” he said.
“They will do the logistical work required to design the new curriculum and making it visible to the community and the school system.”
For more information, visit www.maritimediscovery.org.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 orcbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
