Stan Pinnick and Dave Wayman have returned as interim co-superitendents of the North Beach School District as the School Board of Directors continues to search for a replacement to former Supt. Deborah Holcomb, whose contract was terminated in her second year running the district.
The board also is dealing with two recent vacancies among its own membership, with the Educational Services District stepping in to make one appointment after the district missed a state-mandated deadline to fill such a position — caused when longtime board member Scott Sage resigned his seat late last year.
Pinnick and Wayman most recently oversaw the district for 16 years after they were brought in on consecutive one-year contracts after the district back then faced a financial crises. They now are on a month-by-month contract as the process to find a new superintendent begins again.
“The last time we stepped in here you were $3.2 million in the hole,” said Pinnick, also a Grays Harbor Port Commissioner, noting the school district doesn’t have such a financial problem this time.
Pinnick explained the district will be advertising the open superintendent position as the first step in trying to rebuild support for the district, staff, parents and board.
“We have an opportunity to move forward in a transparent process,” Wayman said at the May 15 School Board meeting.
The pair of longtime school adminstrators has been meeting with teachers and staff to learn about some of the problems that caused a community uproar under Holcomb.
“We had a number of people who expressed concern that it be an open process,” Pinnick said, thanking the principals and the support staff “for the opportunity to be here” in the interim.
He and Wayman were given an ovation after also receiving thank-yous from School Board president Doreen Cato.
The appointed new member is Marion Boenheim, a member of the Ocean Shores Food Bank’s Board.
In addition, the district still must fill the vacant position for Board of Director of District 3, caused by the move of former city clerk Rachel Carl. The position will be an appointed one and the term will end in 2019. Interested persons may submit a letter of interest to the North Beach School District Office located at 2652 State Route 109, Ocean City, Washington, or mail to P.O. Box 159, Ocean Shores, Washington 98569.
The North Beach School Board of Directors is made up of five community members, one from each geographic region of the district. Board members are elected to their district positions for a term of four years by the community at large.
