The first search in two decades for a new superintendent of the Oak Harbor School District will start with a workshop Monday night led by an outside facilitator.

Jerry Jenkins, superintendent of Northwest Educational Service District 189, will lead a discussion with school board members on how to proceed to replace Rick Schulte, who is stepping down on June 30 to take the superintendent role in the Richland School District.

The public may attend the workshop, which is from 6-8 p.m. at the school district office.

The school board wants to discuss four options, including hiring current assistant superintendent Lance Gibbon to a three-year contract and take over as superintendent.

The other options among discussion are whether to pursue a full-scale statewide or national search using an outside search consultant; pursue an abbreviated search with an outside consultant with a shorter timeline; or appoint an interim superintendent for one year, followed by a search starting in January 2014.

The workshop is mostly designed to elicit school board comments, questions and generate discussion.

Schulte has been superintendent of the Oak Harbor School District since 1993.

The board wanted an experienced facilitator to help guide this process.

“He’s got a lot of knowledge on how to do this,” school board president Gary Wallin said.

“We’re in territory we haven’t been before.”