PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend and Chimacum school boards have each selected a different candidate to pursue as their next superintendent, but neither have named their preferred candidate yet.
The two school boards plan a joint meeting at 5 p.m. Feb. 24 when they think they will be able to announce their choices, said Sarah Rubenstein of Maritime Discovery Schools.
Rubenstein said each board selected a candidate on Saturday for further background and reference checks and directed staff to move forward with negotiating contracts.
The Port Townsend School District began the process of looking for a superintendent in January 2020 after then-Superintendent John Polm announced his resignation at the end of the school year as he moved to the Puyallup School District.
The Chimacum School Board voted in 2019 to not renew the contact of Superintendent Rick Thompson, whose contract expires at the end of the 2021 school year. Last summer, Thompson was placed on administrative leave after he made claims of discriminatory harassment and defamation by a school board member.
Former Port Townsend superintendent David Engle has served as the acting superintendent since then.
Both school boards decided in August to move forward with a collaborative search, using search consultant Human Capital Enterprises.
The school boards narrowed their field of candidates to three finalists being considered by both districts and a fourth considered by Port Townsend.
The finalists included:
• Scott Mauk, principal at Edmonds Heights K-12 Alternative Learning Experience in the Edmonds School District, who interviewed with both districts Monday;
• Kristie Lindholm, area senior director of the Office of School Performance in Portland Public Schools, who interviewed with Port Townsend School District on Tuesday;
• Linda Rosenbury, a current doctoral resident at Highline Public Schools, who interviewed with both districts Wednesday;
• Diana Royabal, executive director of elementary education for Cherry Creek School District in Colorado,who interviewed with both districts Thursday.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
