SEQUIM – Sequim School District’s interim superintendent may have the job longer than originally agreed to.
The school board this week discussed the possibility of having Rob Clark stay superintendent beyond one year.
Clark started the job as the interim superintendent this summer. When hired, the school board indicated they wanted someone to hold the position while a formal search for a permanent superintendent was launched this year.
Clark says no decision has been made on what will happen after his first year, but he is listening.
That possibility exists. I’m open to that opportunity. I do think that there are things about that that would really benefit the school district, but you know up front that I’m not going to be here forever. I’m 61 years old. Professionally, my days are numbered but I still have three or four good years left in me.
In an interview with KONP, Clark says he views his job now to move the district forward and not be a placeholder.
Clark admits there have been some controversies within the school district the past few years. He says he’s addressing that fallout. He says his first steps have been to make personnel moves and try to build trust between the district and its residents.
Sequim School District in many areas is in great shape. We have a strong staff, have a community that supports its schools, but there have been a few bumps in the road and we got to not make those same mistakes again and move forward. But probably the biggest thing that our district needs is just a little bit of stability. We’ve had some superintendent turnover. So in the year that I’m going to be here I set the table for the man or woman who’s coming in after me.
Clark has 25 years of experience as a superintendent or administrator, all in smaller school districts. Prior to coming to Sequim, he was the superintendent in the Milton-Freewater School District in north eastern Oregon.