SEQUIM — Citing “irreconcilable differences” with Olympic Theatre Arts’ board of trustees, executive director Caroline Grace James announced her resignation Thursday after less than two months on the job.
“My decision is based on irreconcilable differences . . . regarding the strategy for realizing OTAC’s long-term vision,” James said in a written statement released Thursday.
She declined to specify what those differences are.
Olympic Theatre Arts board chairwoman Tracy Williams received the resignation Thursday and met with James in the afternoon.
Williams said she’s disappointed in the resignation, but not surprised.
“I could see — she talks about a misalignment, and that’s a good word for it,” Williams said.
The issues involved, Williams said, are long-range plans and strategies.
James stepped into the post July 6, replacing Cj Augustine, the arts group’s first full-time executive director.
The decision not to renew Augustine’s contract sparked a storm of controversy that culminated in the election of 10 new trustees at Olympic Theatre Arts’ annual meeting in June.
James was hired the weekend before that meeting, but the executive director’s post is now vacant once again.
“What is best for Olympic Theatre Arts Center is to have an executive director who is in perfect alignment with the board of trustees,” James’ statement said.
“OTAC is destined to fly far and high. Its pilot and co-pilot must agree on the strategic direction to be taken.”
She said she decided to resign “since I now understand that it is impossible for such an agreement to emerge as long as I am executive director.”
