Superintendent to exit before 2024-25 school year

There'll be a new superintendent in the Grand Coulee Dam School District for the 2024-25 school year.

Current Superintendent Paul Turner told the district's board of directors Monday that he intends to retire after working part time for two more school years.

Turner noted the past two years being hard both physically and mentally caused him to look at his personal situation and his future, leading to his decision. 

A full-time assistant superintendent will be hired to potentially, but not definitely, take on the role of superintendent once Turner departs. 

Turner provided the board an outline proposing how the transition can work, both in terms of job descriptions and financially.

He said that the overall administrative cost of the district wouldn't be going up in comparison to the 2020-21 school year. 

In the 2020-21 school year, total administrative cost between a superintendent, federal programs director, federal programs secretary, and contracted psychologist totaled $369,000.

In the current 2021-22 school year, there is no federal programs director, saving about $113,000.

In 2022-23, Turner's salary of $131,000 would drop to $90,000, an assistant superintendent would make $120,000, a federal programs compliance person would make $60,000. 

A special education director/psychologist would make $90,000, $2,400 less per year than a contracted psychologist alone makes now. That comes to a total of $360,000, or right around the same total as the 2020-21 school year.

The board expressed their approval of the idea but said that they didn't want to guarantee the role of superintendent to the assistant superintendent in case it wasn't a good fit.

Turner's job duties would include focusing on facilities/construction, budgeting, federal/state political issues/district policy and procedures, and being a secretary to the school board and tribal liaison.

He would also be in charge of supervising the new assistant superintendent.

The new assistant superintendent would oversee federal programs, day-to-day operations, teaching and learning oversite, hiring and evaluations, and communications.

With the board telling Turner they supported the plan, Turner said he would present them with more concrete details for their approval at their March 14 meeting so that they could start looking to hire for the new position.

Elementary school Principal Lisa Lakin said she appreciated the plan being outlined and was pleased that the board liked it as well.

She said the plan "gives me comfort in knowing that we're not just going to get somebody off the street, but to have Paul sticking around carrying on some of the things we've been working on. ... It's best for our staff and students."

High school Principal Sara Kennedy agreed with Lakin in supporting the plan.