Coupeville schools land a one-year leader

After a search failed to yield a new superintendent for the Coupeville School District, leaders this week decided to hire a temporary one.

The school board Tuesday evening named Karen Koschak as interim superintendent. She will hold the position for one year while a search is conducted a permanent replacement for Patty Page, who left for another job.

Koschak was most recently superintendent of the Granite Falls School District. She had retired from that position in 2011 after three years on the job.

“It just felt like a good fit,” Koschak said after Tuesday’s school board meeting, citing the size and reputation of the school district and the community. She is planning to move to the Coupeville area.

Koschak’s experience includes eight years as superintendent of the Aberdeen School District. She was also an administrator for the Edmonds School District and has 16 years of teaching experience in Marysville.

The school district conducted a quick search last month to find a replacement for Page, who announced her resignation late in the year. Three finalists were identified and visited the school district for day-long interviews that included visiting the school buildings, meeting with staff and students, and attending a public forum during the evening. At the end of the interview process, the school board rejected the three finalists and decided to move forward with an interim superintendent and start the search process over next year.

The school board had approved a contract with search firm MacPherson and Jacobson to look for a permanent superintendent. The contract cost the school district $6,500.

School Board President Kathleen Anderson said that the search firm and the Educational Service District assisted in finding Koschak. The school board interviewed her Tuesday before announcing the hiring during open session.

“We liked her and went with it,” Anderson said.

The school board still has to negotiate a one-year year contract. It is scheduled to be approved at the board’s June 11 meeting.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Nathan Whalen at nwhalen@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5058.

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