CHIMACUM — Chimacum schools will be under new leadership in the 2017-18 school year with two new principals, one for the high school and another taking over the position in the elementary school.
Brian McKenzie, formerly the assistant principal at Chimacum High School, will serve as principal there, while Jason Lynch, a reading specialist at Grant Street Elementary School and Title One/LAP coordinator in Port Townsend, will take over as the elementary school principal.
Both step into their new positions Saturday but have already begun the transition, according to district Superintendent Rick Thompson.
“They are just really busy and important positions,” Thompson said. “They’re both already working to transition into their duties.”
Whitney Meissner, the former CHS principal, has moved to La Conner to take over as superintendent for the La Conner School District.
She was offered the job in February. According to Thompson, once Meissner confirmed she had been offered the job, the district began collecting applications.
Eleven candidates filed, Thompson said, and went through rounds of interviews by both school staff and community members before they selected McKenzie.
McKenzie’s salary is about $104,300 a year due to his past experience, Thompson said.
McKenzie was a principal at two schools in Arizona before moving to Washington state.
Lynch replaces Mark Barga, who retired this year after 37 years in public education.
Twenty-one candidates were considered for the elementary principal position before Lynch was selected, according to Thompson.
“We had good pools of candidates,” Thompson said. “It was very competitive.”
Lynch’s salary for his new position will be $91,223, according to a news release.
The Chimacum School District will resume classes Sept. 5.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
