SEQUIM — The Sequim School Board plans to choose a superintendent Friday evening after three finalists tour the district and meet the public this week.
The candidates — Sheldon Berman of Eugene, Ore.; Joe Potts of Kent; and Heather Davis Schmidt of Missoula, Mont. — were chosen Monday by the School Board after an executive session.
“It took us about an hour and a half of deliberations to choose,” said John Bridge, board member.
The School Board expects to choose one of the finalists for the post Friday.
About 24 individuals applied to succeed Patrick Kelly Shea, who is leaving June 30 to become superintendent of the East Valley School District in Spokane Valley after serving as Sequim superintendent since March 23, 2012.
The list was whittled down to five semifinalists before the top three were chosen.
Each of the three is touring the district this week, being interviewed by the School Board and meeting the public in forums.
Berman, who visited the district Tuesday, is the superintendent of Eugene School District 4-J.
He previously served as the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky from 2007 to 2011.
From 1993 to 2007, he was superintendent of Hudson Public Schools outside of Boston.
Potts has been principal of Kentlake High School since autumn of 2010.
Before that, he served as assistant principal at Kentwood High School in Covington north of Auburn in King County.
Public forum tonight
Potts will visit the district today and participate in a public forum from 5:30 to 7 tonight in the Sequim High School library, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
Schmidt has been the executive regional director for the Missoula County Public School District since July 2011.
She also has been the adjunct professor for curriculum and instruction at the University of Montana since August 2007.
She was previously the dean of students for Big Sky High School in Missoula from July 2008 to July 2010.
Schmidt will visit the Sequim School District on Thursday and participate in a public forum from 5:30 to 7 Thursday night at the library.
At 5 p.m. Friday, the board will go into executive session once more to consider the district’s new superintendent.
“I am not sure how long that is going to take,” Bridge said.
“We are going to get some feedback from the community, and it will take a little while to digest that.
“We are going to choose the one that is the best fit for the Sequim community.”
The new superintendent is expected to assume the post July 1.
The search for a new superintendent began in mid-March.
A farewell reception for Shea is planned from 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, in the district boardroom at 503 N. Sequim Ave.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
