Darrell Cain, interim president of Everett Community College. (Everett Community College) 20220302

New interim president starts at Everett Community College

Darrell Cain is set to earn over $248,000 in salary for his contract through Aug. 31, 2023.

EVERETT — Darrell Cain officially started Monday as interim president of Everett Community College.

Earlier in February the EvCC Board of Trustees approved his contract that started Monday and ends Aug. 31, 2023. But the agreement needed adjustments for clarity and wording, board President Toraya Miller said. They were approved unanimously.

“There were no substantive changes,” Miller said.

Cain was president of Pierce College Puyallup for over three years. As EvCC’s interim president, he is set to earn a salary of $248,230.80 plus health, paid leave and retirement benefits.

It’s on par with his predecessor, Daria Willis, whose three-year contract included a salary of $241,000. Willis left in December to helm Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland.

Pierce College, which operates as a district at two colleges on Joint Base Lewis-McChord and at two high schools, had over 6,900 full-time equivalent students enrolled last school year.

In that same span, EvCC tallied 17,065 students across its education offerings, both credit and non-credit.

Cain takes over a college facing some strife. In board meetings, union representatives for faculty and staff have warned of exhaustion, low morale and inconsistency from the administration.

The college’s leaders faced criticism for a proposal to close the Early Learning Center, a preschool for children from families with low incomes alongside EvCC faculty, staff and students.

The board is looking to hire a full president.

Ben Watanabe: bwatanabe@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3037; Twitter @benwatanabe.

Talk to us

More in Local News

The Walmart Store on 11400 Highway 99 on March 21, 2023 in in Everett, Washington. The retail giant will close the store on April 21, 2023. (Janice Podsada / The Herald)
Walmart announces Everett store on Highway 99 will close on April 21

The Arkansas-based retail giant said the 20-year-old Walmart location was “underperforming financially.”

Firefighters respond to a house fire Wednesday morning in the 3400 block of Broadway. (Everett Fire Department)
3 hospitalized in critical condition after Everett house fire

Firefighters rescued two people, one of whom uses a wheelchair, from the burning home in the 3400 block of Broadway.

Michael Tolley (Northshore School District)
Michael Tolley named new Northshore School District leader

Tolley, interim superintendent since last summer, is expected to inherit the position permanently in July.

News logo for use with stories about Mill Creek in Snohomish County, WA.
Mill Creek house fire leaves 1 dead

The fire was contained to a garage in the 15300 block of 25th Drive SE. A person was found dead inside.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
New forecast show state revenues won’t be quite as robust as expected

Democratic budget writers say they will be cautious but able to fund their priorities. Senate put out a capital budget Monday.

Everett Memorial Stadium and Funko Field on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state

The proposed Senate capital budget contains critical seed money for the city-led project likely to get matched by the House.

Ron Thompson, a former resident of Steelhead Haven, places a sign marking the 9-year anniversary of the Oso landslide Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the landslide memorial site in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘It’s the closest I can be to them’: Nine years after the Oso mudslide

In the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, 43 people died. Families, survivors and responders honored the victims Wednesday.

Prosecutor Craig Matheson gives his opening statement in the trial of Richard Rotter at the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett, Washington on Monday, March 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
At trial in Everett cop’s killing, witnesses recall chaotic chase

The testimony came after an Everett officer was shot while investigating a robbery Wednesday morning, investigators said.

NO CAPTION NECESSARY: Logo for the Cornfield Report by Jerry Cornfield. 20200112
Pursuing pursuits, erasing advisory votes and spending battles begin

It’s Day 73. Budgets are in the forecast as lawmakers enter the final month of the 2023 session

Most Read