PORT ANGLES – The Issaquah School Board did not offer its superintendent position to Port Angeles Superintendent Gary Cohn, who was one of two finalists – and who interviewed Thursday for a similar position in Bellingham.
After deliberating Wednesday night, the Issaquah board offered the job to Stephen Rasmussen, superintendent of Franklin Pierce School District.
Rasmussen verbally accepted the job offer.
Issaquah board members said that they were also impressed by Cohn.
But Rasmussen’s 18 years of leadership at the helm of a larger school district ultimately gave him the advantage, according to a press release from the Issaquah district, which is in King County.
The Issaquah district serves 16,000 students and has 22 schools.
Cohn has served as superintendent of the Port Angeles School District, which has 4,168 students, since 2001.
Thursday, Cohn was scheduled to interview at Bellingham School District for a position as superintendent in that Whatcom County district, where he is one of four finalists.
No word was expected from Bellingham, a district serving about 10,300 students, for several days.
Cohn could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
But, he said on Wednesday that, no matter what happens, he won’t be disappointed.
“I like all the people I work with now,” Cohn said.
“If neither one works out, then this can be a valuable learning experience as it always is when you go somewhere and compare ourselves to other districts.
“He is an excellent administrator, and because of that, he is drawing a lot of interest,” Charlie McClain, Port Angeles School Board president, has said.
The other finalists for the Bellingham post are Fred Poss, deputy superintendent of Mukilteo School District; Cynthia Sickman Simms, superintendent of Mercer Island School District; and Kenneth Vedra, superintendent of Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Bellingham Superintendent Dale Kinsley plans to retire June 30.
