Kitsap Education

I’ve pasted below the email Jim Higgins sent me at 6:36 pm last night. I know there was some concern by commenters on the story that this email was somehow “leaked” (?) or something similar. Jim sent me the email in response to a request I made to speak to him after the decision was made. It’s not an official document of any sort, just a statement Jim sent to me.

Marietta, Thanks for all of the support, here’s my response to this decision. I wrote this this morning. Cheers. -Jim

First, I would like to thank the teachers in Bremerton for giving me the inspiration to lend my voice. Am I shocked that I wasn’t appointed by this school board and Administration? Absolutely not!

Remember that after a campaign of reform and transparency, the first thing the new members did was behave as if they were on the reality TV show “Survivor” in Bremerton and form an alliance to snuff out Louis Mitchell. They picked positions before they were even sworn in. While this may have been legal, one has to ask, was it ethical?

All I can say is that being creative, innovative and using the talents of our teachers, administrators, community members and the students can transform the school district. Not all problems are solved by money and complex problems are often solved by thinking out of the box and being innovative. What will that take? It will take a visionary leader.

I will remind the Administration that there is always a vote of no confidence and an election for three of the five board positions is 2011. Change is a-coming. So be part of the change or tie yourselves to the tracks, because change is a-coming.

Respectfully,

Jim Higgins

The Bremerton School Board will interview two candidates – Dave Rubie and Jim Higgins – tonight to fill its empty seat. The board will change-up the interview process a little and allow some questions from the audience. The questions have to be written. Notecards will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the board room. 134 Marion Ave. The interviews begin at 5 p.m.

Read more about the candidates here. 

Former Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman has taken himself out of the running for a seat on the Bremerton School Board. School district spokeswoman Patty Glaser sent an email about the change this morning. “He wants to spend more time with his family and this is more of a time commitment than he really has available,” she wrote. I have a call into Bozeman and will have more details soon.

So the remaining applicants for Louis Mitchell’s old seat are Jim Higgins and Dave Rubie. The board will interview the two applicants on April 22.

1. Bruce Woolnough will withdraw his application for Louis Mitchell’s old seat on the Bremerton School Board. Woolnough said he’s satisfied with the quality of the other three applicants and doesn’t see a need to serve on the board.

2. Jim Higgins, who is the least known of the three applicants (the other two being former Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman and former school board candidate Dave Rubie) kindly sent me a copy of his application letter. I’ve pasted it below in full. (more…)

I just received an email from the Bremerton School District changing a meeting that was set for Thursday at 5. Instead the school board will meet at 12:30 pm on Thursday in the board room at 134 N Marion Ave. It looks like the board will be making a decision on what consultant to use in the superintendent search. Originally the agenda stated the board would just meet for an update on the search. Now the agenda states that the board will interview consultants and then go into closed session to choose one. That decision was originally slated for Feb. 19. Looks like things are speeding up in the search.

I’ve compiled all the stories the Sun has published about the retirement of Bette Hyde and the subsequent issues in the past 10 months.

Jan. 8, 2009: Bremerton School Board Delays Decision on Superintendent

Dec. 12, 2008: Work Session for Bremerton Superintendent Postponed

Dec. 11, 2008: Hyde Wants to Return as Bremerton Superintendent – Permanently

Nov. 8, 2008: Ex-Assistant of Bremerton Schools Superintendent Alleges Retaliation

Sept. 20, 2008: Did Bremerton Board Play Hyde-and-Seek with the Public?

Sept. 5, 2008: Documents Related to Hiring of Interim Bremerton Schools Chief Sought

Aug. 21, 2008: School Board Approves Contract for Hyde

Aug. 20, 2008: Hyde Will Serve Another Year

Aug. 20, 2008: Hyde Agrees to Another Year as Bremerton Schools Chief

Aug. 19, 2008: Retired Superintendent Asked to Fill Her Own Shoes for a Year

July 29, 2008: Bremerton Superintendent Search in a Holding Pattern

July 2, 2008: Two on Short List to Lead Bremerton Schools for a Year

June 24, 2008: Bremerton Schools Chose Pro Tem Superintendent

June 19, 2008: Bremerton Schools Seeking an Interim-Interim Superintendent

May 8, 2008: A Stopgap Superintendent to Be Sought for Bremerton Schools

May 7, 2008: Bette Hyde: Leading Bremerton Schools ‘The Best Job I’ve Ever Had’

May 1, 2008: Superintendent Search Begins for Bremerton School District

April 28, 2008: Bremerton Superintendent to Retire