SKSD: Meet Potential Superintendent Candidate Wednesday

The South Kitsap School District Board of Directors will meet Wednesday to discuss the possibility of appointing a top school district official as superintendent following Bev Cheney’s retirement at the end of next school year.
The board met last week to interview representatives from superintendent search firms that the district is considering hiring. Board members raised the possibility of appointing David La Rose, assistant superintendent of School and Family Support, to the position following an executive session at the meeting.
The idea of appointing an internal candidate came up as board members discussed the qualifications of the three firms as well as potential candidates for superintendent, said Aimee Warthen, district spokeswoman.
According to school board president Patty Henderson, La Rose’s name was mentioned since he had recently expressed an interest being considered for the office.
“It occurred to us that we should take a hard look at Dave before deciding to spend $25,000 to 40,000 on a superintendent search firm,” said Henderson.
In addition to cost, Henderson mentioned comments from the consulting firms about the challenge of finding quality superintendent candidates given the climate of inadequate funding for schools and the accountability of No Child Left Behind as well as other state and federal mandates.
In a public meeting following the executive session, Henderson said staff and community members will have four opportunities to meet La Rose, hear questioning from the school board, ask questions and provide comments. The board will vote June 4 whether to appoint Rose or hire one of the search firms.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
Wednesday: 6 p.m. at East Port Orchard Elementary, 1964 Hoover Ave. SE, Port Orchard.
May 28: 5 p.m. at the district office, 1962 Hoover Ave. SE, Port Orchard.
June 2: 7 p.m. at Hidden Creek Elementary School, 5455 Converse Road SE, Port Orchard.
June 4: 6 p.m. at the district office.
La Rose was hired as assistant superintendent for school and family support in 2006 after serving two years as principal at Orchard Heights Elementary School.