PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend School Board is expected tonight to ratify a contract with Gene Laes, who will take over most of the duties of the district’s interim superintendent for the 2010-2011 school year at a salary of $96,000.
“This is exciting,” said Laes, 62. “I know I can do this job since I’ve done it for 25 years.”
Laes — whose most recent stint as a superintendent was for the Cape Flattery School District from 1992 until 2008, when he retired to Port Townsend — will earn 80 percent of the $120,000 annual salary discussed for the post.
The remaining 20 percent is expected to be paid to Brian Metke, former superintendent of schools in Glendale, Ore., on a consultant basis.
The Port Townsend School Board will meet at 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Building, 450 Fir St.
The board opted for an interim superintendent for one year after it was unable to find a permanent replacement for Tom Opstad, who will leave the district Wednesday to head the Aberdeen School District.
Laes is to start work Thursday.
The board said it was impressed with both Laes and Metke when it announced it would work to use the talents of both.
The district expects to ask voters to approve a facilities levy in early 2010. Board members have said that Metke, 61, could be helpful in presenting the district’s reasons for the tax.
A standard superintendent’s contract is 220 days, Laes said. He will be paid for 176 days.
There is also a provision in the contract for up to 10 additional days paid on a per diem basis.
Laes said he won’t be watching the clock.
“I will do whatever it takes to get the job done,” he said.
Laes said that a lot of school districts are struggling financially, and he was “comfortable with the terms of this contract.”
Laes met on June 16 with the community, administration and school board as one of two finalists for the interim position.
Laes has already met with members of the school administration and support staff, and has several meetings scheduled for his first day on the job.
Laes does not plan to attend the meeting where his contract is due to be ratified due to a previous family commitment.