PORT TOWNSEND — The next superintendent of schools will come to Port Townsend from neighboring counties to the south or east after a California finalist dropped out of the running.
“I think we have two really strong candidates to choose from,” said School Board member Beth Young on Monday night. “I don’t see a good reason to call any of the others back.”
After an all-day interview session Saturday, the board chose Thomas Churchill, superintendent of the Hood Canal School District in Shelton; Mellody Matthes, executive director of human resources for the Oak Harbor School District on Whidbey Island; and Jeff Sweeney, superintendent in Fillmore, Calif., north of Los Angeles.
Sweeney on Monday notified the board he is no longer interested in the position.
Replacing Opstad
The board is hiring a replacement for Tom Opstad, who will become superintendent of the Aberdeen School District in Grays Harbor County.
Opstad’s last day is June 30, with the new superintendent scheduled to start the following day, July 1.
No one in the district gave a reason for Sweeney’s action, and Sweeney did not return a call for comment.
The board met in a 15-minute executive session that preceded its regular business meeting to decide whether to call back one of the other applicants but declined to do so.
Both of the remaining candidates have previous connections with and affection for Port Townsend.
Churchill, 48, was a finalist for the Chimacum superintendent’s position but lost out to Craig Downs in March.
He decided to apply for the Port Townsend position when it became available “because it is a perfect fit, and I love the area.”
Matthes, 50, grew up in the area and took classes at Centrum when she was in high school.
Churchill is married to a retired teacher and has grown children.
Matthes is not married and has no children.
Moving to PT
Both said they intended to move to Port Townsend if they are hired as superintendent.
“I intend to become part of this community,” Matthes said.
“This is a great place with a lot of culture,” Churchill said.
Matthes is a pilot who regularly flies her small plane into Jefferson County International Airport but has taken the ferry from Whidbey Island to the interview sessions in Port Townsend.
More information
The board will spend this week gathering more information about the two candidates.
Further interviews are scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday, when each candidate will spend an entire day in the school system and meet with people on all levels.
The board is scheduled to hold an executive session at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, after which it is expected to announce its choice.
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Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
