Mount Baker School Board will hold public interviews with superintendent candidate semi-finalists, and then finalists, over the next week.
Seven candidates made the school board’s short list, but one withdrew from consideration for personal reasons, said school board president Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt. The school board will interview the six remaining semi-finalists on Saturday, March 8 in the district office, starting at 8 a.m. Community members can join online through a webinar link.
Next week, the school board will host community forums for three finalists at 6:15 p.m. on March 11, 12 and 13 at the Mount Baker School District office at 4956 Deming Rd in Deming.
The candidates include five educational leaders from Washington, and one from Alaska.
Mount Baker’s Interim Superintendent Nick Perigo is up for the top job alongside Aaron Kombol, superintendent of the Easton School District; Tim LaGrange, superintendent of the Kittitas School District; Jessica Schenck, the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning at the Othello School District; and Jeff Hardesty, the superintendent of the Oroville School District.
Sven Gustafson, the chief academic officer in the Anchorage School District, also made the shortlist.
The district has been without a permanent leader since December 2023, when former superintendent Mary Sewright resigned several months ahead of her planned retirement. Former Sedro-Woolley Superintendent Phil Brockman temporarily helmed the district until summer 2024, when the school board appointed then-HR Director Perigo to fill the role until the board could find a permanent replacement.
Students, staff and community members can submit questions for the finalist candidates at this online form before 5 p.m. on Monday, March 10.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
