Wednesday, April 10, 2013, the head of Snoqualmie Valley Schools, Joel Aune, was named one of three
finalists for the open Richland School District superintendent position in Eastern Washington.
Richland had held most of their superintendent search behind closed doors until yesterday when announcing the final candidates.
The Tri City Herald reported this less public search was strategically done so as to attract a larger candidate pool, including current superintendents. Richland fired its superintendent in January for violating a morality clause in his contract.
Via press release, the Richland School District announced Joel Aune, along with Oak Harbor Superintendent, Dr. Rick Schulte, and Canby School District (Oregon) Superintendent, Dr. John Steach, as the top three candidates to lead its schools.
The Richland School District is home to about 11,600 students and in February passed a $98 million school bond to remodel current schools and construct news ones in fast developing areas of the district.
Richland School Board members will interview one finalist each day next week between April 16th – 18th. The finalists will then meet with community members, parents, staff and students at public forums each evening.
After those interviews and public meetings, Richland board members will visit each finalist’s current school district, with plans to select a new superintendent by the end of April 2013.
