The La Conner School District should enjoy a smooth leadership transition as the school board on Monday appointed finance chief David Cram to succeed Will Nelson as superintendent for one year, starting July 1.

Nelson, who is completing his third year leading La Conner schools, announced in April that he will leave the district June 30 for a teaching post at Western Washington University in Bellingham.

Rather than conducting a potentially costly external search for Nelson's successor, the board promoted Cram, a La Conner High School alum now in his second tour as the district's finance directo...