PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend schools superintendent will leave a district with about 1,200 total students for one with about 22,000 from kindergarten through 12th grade, but John Polm still has work to do in East Jefferson County.
Polm, 56, who announced Friday his intention to start July 1 as the superintendent for the Puyallup School District, said he wants to wrap up a 10-year capital facilities plan for the high school this spring.
The Port Townsend School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at the Gael Stuart building, 1610 Blaine St., to discuss the next steps on how to fill the position.
Among the items on Polm’s agenda before he leaves is solidifying the future of the Lincoln Building, which he said has stood on the campus since about 1897.
Work needed
The high school also needs some remodeling and infrastructure work, including a roof replacement, Polm said.
“We would like to modernize them as much as possible,” he said while seated in his office Monday.
Polm referenced out-of-date heating systems that have been around since the 1980s and pointed to an updated elevator construction project at the high school, 1500 Van Ness St., that is now functional and will be celebrated this afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Polm also reflected on his four-year tenure, crediting retired Port Townsend Superintendent David Engle for public outreach and saying he continued the trend of engaging with new community partnerships.
“It’s the teachers who really drive that,” Polm said.
Voters passed a capital bond prior to Polm’s arrival and he helped oversee the construction of the $28.1 million Salish Coast Elementary School, a 68,000-square-foot building that opened in 2018.
He also cited the integration of maritime trades curriculum into programming at the Northwest Maritime Center, a program unique to Port Townsend.
“We fully implemented the Maritime Discovery Schools initiative, and that really did take three years,” he said.
A First Federal Community Development grant for $50,000 was awarded for the academy skills center on Monday, providing for initial equipment needs.
Polm also spoke highly of the school board.
“They hold everyone accountable, but as the same time, they are very supportive,” Polm said.
Board Chair Jennifer James-Wilson said in a statement Friday the board will be sorry to lose him.
“Puyallup puts him in the district that three of his grandchildren live and much closer to parents in Longview,” she said.
“We are grateful for the four years John has served his district as an effective and well-respected leader. I’m confident that we’re in an excellent position to continue the progress that has been made.”
Polm served as the principal at Bremerton High School from 2010-16 and earned his bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Puget Sound. He also holds a master’s degree in education from Eastern Washington University and a doctorate in education from Seattle Pacific University.
He said he was visiting with his grandchildren during the holidays and decided to apply for the position in Puyallup. The board there was looking to replace the retiring Tim Yeomans, who said in December he would step away and work only as needed.
Polm said he has mixed feelings about leaving Port Townsend.
“I definitely like it here,” Polm said. “This is a wonderful community, and it’s been a dream scenario to work with the board here. It’s a good school district to be part of.
“Whoever follows me will find this to be a great place to work.”
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
