School board urged to look within for next leader

The La Conner School Board may not have to look far to find a successor to Dr. Will Nelson.

Board president Susie Deyo last week raised the prospect of the school district hiring from within its ranks an acting interim superintendent to succeed Nelson, who is leaving June 30 after three years leading La Conner School District to accept a teaching post at Western Washington University.

Deyo shared that option during an hourlong April 18 public “listening session” on campus. She and other board members had held a similar meeting with school staff on April 16.

“We have to ask ourselves if we can make it through next year with an internal superintendent,” Deyo said on Thursday.

She suggested there’s evidence that it can.

Deyo noted that the two primary roles of a superintendent are that of a fiscal manager and instructional leader. She said the school district already has a seasoned finance director in deputy superintendent David Cram and an established director of teaching and learning in Beth Clothier.

Both are La Conner High School alums, familiar to the staff and community alike.

Deyo said staff members have advised the board to avoid shelling out a lot of money at this time on a full-fledged superintendent search as the district is still rebounding from significant financial hits linked to plunging student enrollment.

The district enrolled about 700 K-12 students in the early 2000s. Enrollment remained in the 600-student range when the COVID-19 pandemic began four years ago.

Enrollment fell to 490 full-time students this year. Cram is budgeting for 460 students in 2024-25 as the incoming kindergarten class is expected to be much smaller than the high school graduating class this spring.

Enrollment is the main driver of state funding support of public schools.

Deyo said if money is to be spent, the La Conner staff would prefer it target special-education needs.

“What we heard loud and clear is what we need is a special education director,” she said.

Andy Wheeler, the district’s longtime director of special programs, retired in 2023. Wheeler’s position wasn’t filled, and Nelson assumed those duties this year.

“When we met with the staff, they said not to spend money on a superintendent search, that we need to simplify things and get back to our roots – which are academics, sports and being community oriented,” Deyo said.

She estimated it would cost $100,000 to “go outside for even a part-time superintendent.”

“The question becomes how else can we spend that $100,000 for the students,” she said. “The kids come first. What we need to do is invest in our students.”

Those attending the community listening session suggested that not spending money now on a superintendent search will show voters the district’s commitment to fiscal restraint when a replacement school levy proposal goes on the ballot next year.

Deyo said other factors come into play as well.

She said if the district were to hire consultants this spring to seek out superintendent candidates, it would be the third such search in eight years. It suggests that La Conner churns through administrators.

The consensus on Thursday was that the board should pursue a course that ensures both short-term and long-range stability for the district.

“We have huge challenges ahead,” said retired La Conner School District administrator Maureen Harlan. She and former board member Gretchen McCauley were among attendees at Thursday night’s session.

“But the community is very supportive,” Harlan said.

Board member J.J. Wilbur praised Nelson for his part in implementing innovative academic programs during his tenure.

“With Will’s help, we’ve charted a good course,” Wilbur said. “We want to continue the course that we’ve charted.”