New North Kitsap School District superintendent decision could be made today

POULSBO -- North Kitsap residents could know who their new superintendent of schools is today.

The North Kitsap School Board meets 6:30-8 p.m. in the district office board room, 18360 Caldart Ave. NE in Poulsbo, will “immediately move into Executive Session to further consider the qualifications of applicants for the position of Superintendent,” according to the agenda, and then will return to open session “and may consider action to offer the position of Superintendent.”

Today’s meeting is a special meeting for the purpose of hiring the new superintendent. The board’s regular meeting is Thursday (March 22), 5 p.m., at the district office.

The final superintendent candidates are David Gray, assistant superintendent of the Battle Ground School District; Robert Kuehl, assistant superintendent of the Tumwater School District; and Patrice Page, superintendent of the Coupeville School District. Page is a product of North Kitsap schools and graduated from North Kitsap High School.

The new superintendent will succeed Dr. Richard Jones, who is leaving in June when his three-year contract expires. It’s not known how much the new superintendent will be paid. Jones, who has a doctorate with 30 years of experience in education, earns $140,000. Gray, who has a doctorate with more than 16 years of experience in education, earns $120,277. Kuehl, who has a master’s with more than 29 years of experience in education, earns $114,863. Page, who has a master’s degree with 30 years of experience in education, earns $118,811.

The new superintendent will have some challenges coming out of the starting gate. The school board formed a committee to study closing an elementary school, and students and teachers from the closed school will likely start the 2012-13 school year at other sites. The district is involved in a pilot program to test a new state-approved system for evaluating teachers and principals. And the district continues to tighten its belt because of declines in enrollment and money from the state.

 

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