MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut and Special Assistant P.J. De Benedetti announced they are retiring at the end of the year.

Chestnut, 53, said he is retiring from the school district June 30. De Benedetti is retiring in July. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

“I’m very confident that the best days in the school district lay ahead,” Chestnut said.

Chestnut said he is planning to continue his career outside of Washington, under a different retirement system.

“I’m not planning to retire [completely],” Chestnut noted. “I’m currently applying for different superintendent jobs outside the state of Washington.”

He has worked in Washington since the fall of 1977, when he joined the staff at Cashmere High School.

It is Chestnut’s 12th year as superintendent for Moses Lake School District.

He said he and De Benedetti loved working for the school district.

“It’s been a great 12 years,” Chestnut said. “Both of our kids graduated from Moses Lake High School.”

Chestnut said he is excited for the new opportunity.

If Chestnut does not find a job outside Washington, his family plans to stay in Moses Lake.

Watch the Columbia Basin Herald for feature stories on Chestnut and De Benedetti in the near future.