The search is on for a new superintendent.

The Coupeville School Board is scheduled to hire a consultant to find a replacement for Patty Page, who is resigning her position to become superintendent at the North Kitsap School District.

The special school board meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 28 in the Coupeville Elementary School Conference Room.

The school district sent a request for proposals for head hunting companies to seek out suitable candidates for the superintendent position. By the end of business Monday, two companies, Northwest Leadership Associates and McPherson and Jacobson, had submitted proposals. By the time Monday evening’s meeting began, board members hadn’t reviewed the proposals, but seemed impressed with the credentials of each company.

“I don’t think we could go wrong with either of these two companies,” Kathleen Anderson, school board president, said.

The school district is starting a superintendent search during a time when other school districts are wrapping up the hiring process to fill fall vacancies. Page said during the meeting that school districts in Meridian, Mount Baker and Olympia all recently named finalists for their vacant superintendent spots. When Page was hired five years ago, the school district started searching in February and made a decision in May.

Page, who wasn’t actively pursuing a new job, decided to apply for the North Kitsap position because it gave her a chance to move closer to her mother.

The school board discussed options for replacing Page, from hiring a permanent replacement to looking for an interim leader to hold the spot while a more in-depth search is made.

“We’re going to miss her and she’ll be hard to replace,” Anderson said.

Board member Don Sherman thought it may be best to go with an interim superintendent. Anderson said she contacted the Educational Service District, based in Anacortes, for names of possible interim superintendents. Interim spots are often filled by retired superintendents or assistant superintendents looking for more experience.

Anderson questioned whether an interim superintendent would be able to continue reaching the student achievement goals of the school district.

Sherman stressed that it’s important to take enough time to find the right person for the job. If an acceptable candidate isn’t found, then the school board should hire an interim superintendent to allow time to find a suitable replacement, he said.