FORKS – Diana Reaume didn’t come to Forks to be the superintendent of Quillayute Valley School District, but in May the former principal will take over the job.
“She’s a wonderful lady, and really great to work with,” said Superintendent Frank Walter, who announced in January that he would step down in May to join his fiancee in Pierce County.
“She made strong connections with the community.”
Reaume, who joined the staff as the director of student services in August, was chosen for the superintendent’s post last month, said Dave Dickson, chairman of the Quillayute Valley School Board.
She will be paid “a little over $100,000” per year, on a three-year contract with an option for an additional year.
The School Board didn’t seek candidates outside the district, said Dickson.
“We had two in-house candidates,” said Dickson.
“We interviewed those. We were happy with the qualifications of both of them, but Mrs. Reaume had already obtained her superintendent’s credential,” while the other candidate had not.
“When you go outside the system, you have to pay for a consultant,” said Dickson.
“If neither of the candidates had been what we’re looking for, then we would have gone outside the system.”
But Reaume had what the School Board wanted, Dickson said: “Good curriculum skills, proven leadership and the ability to work with a diverse group, not only teachers and staff but also the community.”
Finding the right person in-house helped the district get a head-start on the training, Walter said.
“For example, we already met with a person from the educational service district to do a midyear financial review,” Walter said.
“She’s already been involved in our current budget process, as well as budget plans for next year.”
