SEQUIM — Interim Superintendent Rob Clark plans to focus first on passage of a levy for the Sequim School District and on personnel problems when he begins work July 8.
“The two big things we need to get done early,” Clark said, “are to get ready for the (Educational Programs & Operations) levy coming up and make sure that passes.
“There’s also several personnel issues I’m aware of that need to be addressed soon,” he added.
Clark is tying up loose ends at the Milton-Freewater (Oregon) School District, where he has served as superintendent since 2013.
He said he would be in Sequim for a few days before then on what he called a “time share” between the districts.
Clark said he wants to spend some time building relationships with district staff and various community stakeholders who are involved in the education process.
“Those relationships help us get things done,” Clark said, “and they bring a lot of people to the table productively when there’s something to accomplish.”
Clark said he is familiar with the region because of serving as the Quilcene schools superintendent from 1995 to 1997.
“My wife and I like the area a lot, and we have a condo in Port Ludlow because of it,” he said. “Two of our three children also live in the greater Seattle area, so being closer to our family would be a huge benefit to us.
“But more than that,” Clark said, “I think I have the skills to really help this district. There’s things that need doing that my history shows I can do, and I want to do that for this community.”
School Board president Brian Kuh said that improving district-wide communication will be a key focus for Clark.
“He’s indicated his desire to reach out to all of our buildings and staff soon after coming on board. He’ll also get to know the Sequim community with targeted outreach to local stakeholders, leaders, and organizations.”
Kuh also mentioned Clark’s history in addressing and correcting diversity gaps in previous superintend positions, and spoke of that being an important component for bringing him on board given the district’s “strong partnership with the Jamestown Tribe and our vibrant minority communities.”
When asked if he was considering applying to be the permanent superintendent when that process begins later this year, Clark laughed.
“I’ll have to ask my wife,” he said. “She’s been incredible following me all over the state for more than three decades. I’m going to have to get her permission for that one.”
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Conor Dowley is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at cdowley@sequimgazette.com.
