PORT ANGELES – The Issaquah School Board was scheduled to consider late Wednesday night if it would make an offer to Gary Cohn, current superintendent of Port Angeles School District, or to the other finalist for the district’s top administrative post.
Cohn is a finalist for both the Issaquah position and a superintendent’s post in Bellingham.
He underwent a round of interviews in Issaquha, which is in King County, on Tuesday, and is scheduled for a similar round in Bellingham, in Whatcome County, today.
Cohn said Wednesday he didn’t know which district he would pick should he be offered both jobs.
“I haven’t been through the process with Bellingham yet, so I just don’t know enough about the district or the people to make that kind of decision,” he said.
Cohn was also not sure when a decision from the boards would be final.
“I could get a call tonight from Issaquah, or it could be a few days,” he said.
“The thing to remember is that all we’ve done is agreed to dance.
“No one’s proposed marriage yet.”
He added that he wouldn’t be disappointed in any case.
“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.”
In Issaquah, Cohn said he met with the community, educational groups and the school board.
“I talked about the importance of high standards, professional development, developing trust-based relationships and a high involvement team.
“I also spoke to the importance of making data-driven decisions.”
Steve Rasmussen, the second candidate, went through the same process Wednesday.
“I got asked some funny questions, and I got asked some tough questions,” Cohn said.
“It’s like being in a levy campaign.
“You’re on point and on display, trying to help people understand what you have to say and answer what they want to understand.”
All four candidates for the superintendent position in Bellingham will be at the interviews today.
The other finalists in Bellingham 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.
The Sequim School Baord will interview candidates to fill the district’s top administrative post on Saturday.
Garn Christensen, Sequim superintendent, will become superintendent of the Eastmont School District in East Wenatchee in July.
Finalists will come to Sequim on April 24 through 26 to tour schools and appear at public meetings.
The board may choose the new superintendent by the end of April.
