PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School Board has selected semifinalists from a field of 36 applicants for district superintendent but will not release the names of those chosen until they have been contacted.
The board plans to select its choice to replace Jane Pryne, who is retiring June 30, at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. March 27 at Lincoln High School, 924 W. Ninth St.
The board met in executive session for four hours late Tuesday afternoon to review candidate qualifications, then opened the meeting at about 7 p.m. to vote to instruct candidate search consultants to contact their selections from the 39 applications they reviewed.
Each of the semifinalists will be contacted by professional consultants Steve Rasmussen and Jim Shoemake of Ray and Associates Inc., who will determine how many are still interested in interviewing for the position, said Steve Baxter, board president.
Sticking to schedule
As soon as the board is notified which of its choices agrees to continue with the process, the board will release the names of the candidates, Baxter said.
“We plan to stick pretty tightly to the schedule we published,” he said.
The remaining schedule is:
■ Week of March 17: Interviews with semifinalist candidates; the board will meet with the consultants following the final interview to select finalists.
■ Week of March 24: The board will interview finalist candidates, then meet with the consultants after the final interview.
Once the new superintendent has been hired, he or she is expected to take part in the selection of a deputy superintendent.
In June 2013, former Deputy Associate Superintendent Michelle Reid departed to become superintendent of the South Kitsap School District.
Mary Ann Unger, a retired district administrator, has served as interim deputy associate superintendent since July 2013.
The search for the new deputy superintendent is likely to be informed by the choice of superintendent, Rasmussen has said.
When seeking a deputy superintendent, specific qualities can be sought to offset any weaknesses the superintendent may have, he said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
