SLSD selects superintendent finalist for negotiations
REBECCA PETTINGILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 7 months AGO
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake School Board has offered the superintendent position to Kim Casey. The position was left open unexpectedly earlier this year after the resignation of former Superintendent Sunshine Pray.
“We honestly really believe we've got a real solid candidate and we're really pleased to get Kim and at least offer the job and have the opportunity to do it,” said Board President Curt Dotson.
The board held a special meeting and executive session on May 5 to discuss the superintendent candidates and determine if they would be moving forward in the hiring process with either one.
After an hour in executive session - a private meeting of board members used for legal matters and personnel issues - Dotson announced they had come to offer the position to Casey.
Casey currently serves as the Grandview High School principal and finished her superintendent certification last month.
Dotson said the board had selected Casey after reviewing feedback received from community members and district staff.
Some of the qualifications that Dotson said stood out to them about her include that she is bilingual in English and Spanish; she comes from a district that is larger than Soap Lake rather than smaller; and the types of issues she has dealt with at her current district reflect some of the issues SLSD is trying to address.
Casey also has a masters in business administration the board feels will come in handy in the superintendent position.
Dotson said, pending successful contract negotiations, Casey has verbally accepted the offer.
He also wanted to thank SLSD staff and the Soap Lake community for their patience and flexibility while they searched, interviewed and selected a new superintendent. Dotson also expressed appreciation for work done by Northwest Leadership Associates, the firm the district used in its candidate search.
“(Casey) just brings a lot to the table, she has a lot of positives that would easily plug into the system that we need,” said Dotson.
Rebecca Pettingill can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY REBECCA PETTINGILL
Ag issues on docket in 2023 Washington Legislature
OLYMPIA — The 2023 Washington Legislature session included bills to support agriculture. House Bill 1138, concerning drought preparedness, is one piece of that legislation. “We’ve been working on that for two to three years,” said Rep. Tom Dent, a sponsor of the bill. “So we get into a drought in different areas of the state and the drought committee comes together and puts together a plan to help people in the drought-affected area to mitigate the effects of the drought, whether it means through use of emergency wells, financial assistance, (or other measures).” HB 1138, requested by the Department of Ecology, adjusts the circumstances in which the Drought Committee is authorized to convene. The bill amends these circumstances to include when a drought advisory is in effect and when a drought emergency order is in effect.
Legislators request millions in infrastructure funding for Adams Co.
RITZVILLE – Adams County looks to have millions of dollars in federal funds for infrastructure projects approved by Congress through requests by regional legislators. “We are grateful to all the members of our Congressional delegation, each of whom has stepped up to assist with vitally important infrastructure projects for our region,” said Dan Blankenship, Adams County Commissioner... .
Dent proud of committee’s bipartisan effort in 2023 session
MOSES LAKE – Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, said that there is a lot he has to be proud of from this session, but the thing he was most proud of was the bipartisan effort to tackle bills by him and several other lawmakers. “I think, for me, there were a lot of wins,” said Dent. “The kind of wins that you don’t see.”