Quilcene schools seek K-12 principal, ops director

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The Quilcene School Board moved forward toward filling the district’s director of operations and K-12 principal positions at its March 15 meeting.

Although the board members considered having the director of operations position take a more active hand in transportation, they ultimately decided that the balance of the job’s duties should weigh more heavily on the maintenance side, with board vice chair Mark Apeland making the motion, board member Vivian Kuehl seconding, and the board unanimously approving it. Board Director Paul Mahan was absent from that meeting.

Moving on to the subject of the K-12 principal position, Superintendent Wally Lis advocated hiring another principal to replace the outgoing Gary Stebbins, who was given the nickname “Dr. G” while principal at Quilcene.

“We have to go with another principal to hope to get the level of talent we have with Dr. G,” Lis said. “They can learn to work with the other aspects of administration. We have to be communicating with the market right away, so we don’t wind up behind the curve. We want the best.”

Kuehl agreed, describing the principal position as “the core of the school,” to the point that anything less than a full-time commitment wouldn’t cut it.

“I concur, because I hope we can find another Dr. G,” fellow board member Greg Brotherton said.

“The goal of our posting should be to find someone at least as good as Dr. G,” Kuehl said.

After Apeland again made the motion, with Brotherton seconding and the board approving it unanimously, Kuehl suggested an evening session to meet with the candidates.

“Less than three weeks, and it looks like an inside job,” Lis said. “More than six weeks, and you’re taking too long. It usually takes about four weeks to assemble your candidates.”

The Quilcene School District posted its job listing for the K-12 principal position March 20.

The K-12 principal position currently earns $103,324 for 210 days per year, while a first-year director of operations would earn $43,700, according to Gena Lont, school district human resources and payroll specialist.