SEQUIM –– A Kansas recreation center supervisor and Grays Harbor native will return to the Northwest as executive director of the Sequim Aquatic and Recreation Center
The SARC Board of Directors on Tuesday selected Scott Deschenes of Mission, Kan.
Laid off by budget cuts last December, Deschenes, 41, had been the recreation program supervisor at a community center in Mission, southwest of Kansas City, Kan.
“He brings a lot to the table,” said Susan Sorensen, chairwoman of the SARC board, after Deschenes accepted the job during a phone call.
A native of Aberdeen, Deschenes said he was excited to get back to the Northwest.
“It’s just a beautiful area. I love the whole North Peninsula there,” Deschenes said.
He will fill the SARC leadership post currently staffed on an interim basis by Leslee Francis.
Former Executive Director Taylor McDonald left in March to take a job in her home state of Virginia.
Deschenes plans to take over the helm in late June, moving with his wife, Charisse.
As a victim of budget cuts in his past job, Deschenes said he understands how increasing expenses can place a financial crunch on recreation centers, as SARC’s cost are eating into its reserve funds.
‘Part of government’
“I’m familiar with budget cuts. It’s just part of government right now,” he said.
“The SARC is very similar to the center I worked at in my last job, and I’m sure there’s a lot of the same challenges.”
Sorensen said Deschenes’ education — a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Washington State University and a master’s in executive management from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. — made the board feel he was the right candidate to navigate SARC through its financial troubles.
‘Increase our visibility’
She added that his experience in promoting and creating community programs also made him the most attractive candidate.
“I think we need to increase our visibility,” she said.
In all, 19 people applied for the position, with the board interviewing five.
Sorensen said Francis did not apply for the job.
One qualification Deschenes does not yet have, though, is the proper certification to operate a public pool.
SARC Commissioner Gil Goodman abstained from the vote.
While he would not comment on his abstention, Goodman prior to the vote read a statement that said it was “imperative” that Deschenes strengthen his knowledge of managing a pool.
Deschenes said he plans to enroll in a pool operator certification class in Kansas City and obtain that knowledge before he starts.
The SARC board Tuesday voted to reimburse him the costs of that training, estimated at $350.
________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
