UPDATE Sequim schools narrow choices for superintendent; one candidate drops out

Published 2:32 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Sequim School Board directors have selected three finalists for the districts’ superintendent position, with a decision on the district’s newest top administrator set as early as Thursday, May 15.

The board’s finalists include: Dr. Sheldon Berman, superintendent of Eugene School District 4J in Eugene, Ore.; Dr. Joe Potts, principal at Kentlake High School in Kent; and Heather Davis Schmidt, executive regional director for Missoula Public Schools in Missoula, Mont.

The board was scheduled to start the first of three daylong interviews followed by public forums — each set for 5:30-7 p.m.at the Sequim High School library — with Berman on May 12, followed by Potts on May 13 and Schmidt on May 14.

However, Schmidt was reportedly offered the superintendent position with the Whitefish School District (Whitefish, Mont.) and has dropped out of the running, so the board has moved up the schedule.

The board is scheduled to meet in executive session from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, with possible selection of the new superintendent after that executive session.

Sequim schools superintendents through the years (since 1912)

Jess Mantle 1912-1919

Paul Davis 1919-1924

N.C. Abbot 1924

Anna E. Sweet 1925-1930

Kirby Smith 1930-1934

Harry Edwards 1934-1946

Tom Marsden 1947-1953

Wallace Blore 1953-1960

Matt Strauss 1960-1965

Everett Lindaas 1965-1974

Jack McKay 1974-1977

Robert (Bob) Schmitt 1977-1984

Ken Anderson 1984-1993

Lew Moormann 1993-1999

Mike Joyner 1999-2003

Garn Christensen 2003-2007

Bill Bentley 2007-2012

Kelly Shea 2012-2015