Edmonds school leaders plot a course to find new superintendent

Published 11:50 am Thursday, March 24, 2022

LYNNWOOD — Directors of the Edmonds School District have set a course to replace Superintendent Gustavo Balderas, who will leave for a new job in Oregon this summer.

The school board agreed Tuesday to employ an interim superintendent for as long as a year, giving directors time to conduct a thorough search for a new leader of the 21,000-student district.

Directors said they would like to name an interim chief in the next two months. Current district employees and outside candidates, including retired superintendents, will be considered, they said.

A full-blown search for a new superintendent would begin this fall. A search firm would be hired to steer the process which will span months and involve district employees, parents and community members throughout.

They envision mirroring the path that led to their hiring Balderas in March 2020.

Balderas, the 2020 national superintendent of the year, announced last week that he accepted the superintendent’s job in the Beaverton School District in Oregon. His last day in Edmonds is June 30.

“I think we’re doing this in a logical, analytical and reasonable way,” Edmonds board president Nancy Katims said.

While directors sketched out details Tuesday, they did not take any formal action. Decisions related to the interim and permanent superintendent searches will be made at future meetings.