D21 turns to local talent for interim Super

North Wasco County School District 21 postponed its search for a permanent superintendent during its March 19 school board meeting. And it’s now focusing on selecting from current staff to hold the position for the upcoming school year.

Directors will now have a major decision before them on local talent as they choose a leader to guide some 3000 students and 160 teachers at seven different schools in the district in the 2020-21 school year.

Requirements for the job include three years of building level administration, said current Superintendent Candy Armstrong on Monday, April 6.

For example, administrators having those credentials include The Dalles High School Principal Kurt Evans or Human Resources Director Brian Schimel or The Dalles Middle School Principal Sandy Harris. And this is by no means a complete list.

That’s just an example. Whether they will apply for the position remains to be seen as well. (We’ll keep you posted)

Applications are due April 24th.

An interview process will then occur, and the interim chosen and hired this July.

Meanwhile, the selection process for the permanent position, utilizing McPherson & Jacobson LLC consulting, will continue in January of 2021. The permanent superintendent will then be selected in the spring and hired in July of next summer.

“We’re not starting over,” Armstrong said. “A lot of good work has gone on. We have had good community input. We will have a much more streamlined process next year.”

“And for people worried that this was taxpayer dollars wasted- they need to know that the consulting firm will pick this back up and finish it next year without additional costs.”