PORT TOWNSEND — School district directors have narrowed to six the field of superintendent finalists who the board will interview and introduce to the community next month.
District officials scheduled a “brown bag” lunch for superintendent candidates to meet key community members March 4 at noon in the Port Townsend High School library, 450 Fir St.
An open community meeting is also scheduled for 7:30 p.m. the same day in the Blue Heron Middle School commons, 3939 San Juan Ave.
The board narrowed down an initial list of 22 candidates, provided by Gay Selby, a hired Kelso-based search consultant.
Selection by end of March
Following the interviews, the board is expected to make a hiring recommendation either at a special meeting or at the normally scheduled meeting March 28.
The district began its search for a new superintendent earlier this year to replace the retiring Carol Andreasen, who spent the past six years as Port Townsend’s top school administrator.
Andreasen will make $97,245, which board members called competitive statewide.
The median superintendent’s pay for comparable school districts in the state was $97,252 last year.
Candidates for the position are:
* Dale R. Bowen, superintendent of Wishkah Valley School District in Aberdeen.
* Duane Lyons, superintendent of Hamilton School District in Hamilton, Mont.
* John J. Matt, superintendent of Scappoose School District in Scappoose, Ore.
* Yoshihiro “Roy” Okamoto, assistant superintendent of Bremerton School District.
* Thomas Opstad, assistant superintendent of Lynden School District.
* Susanne Walker, executive director of student services for the Shoreline School District.