MUKILTEO — Seven months into her new job, Mukilteo School District Superintendent Marci Larsen is getting high marks from the school board and student leaders.
The board plans to vote in February to extend her $143,000-a-year contract another two years to July 2007. Details of the extension are not yet available.
"I’m thrilled," Larsen said. "I am looking forward to moving into the area and being part of the community, and obviously working in the district over the long term."
Larsen was named superintendent in May and took over the helm on July 1. The district conducted a national search for a new superintendent but found its next leader was already on the payroll.
Larsen was Mukilteo’s executive director of teaching and learning, overseeing instructional programs including special education, curriculum development, assessment and staff training.
The district, which had just spent $320,000 to buy out to former Superintendent Gary Toothaker’s contract in fall 2002, negotiated a two-year contract with Larsen instead of three years, which is common with many superintendent contracts in the state.
"Having a candidate with no superintendent experience and not wanting to get into another buyout situation, we were just more cautious than usual," said Geoff Short, a school board member who was president of the board during the superintendent search. "That was a negotiated part of it, with the idea that very soon we would see how it was going and reconsider" the length of the contract.
Short said he has been impressed with Larsen for the high academic expectations she sets and the "strong, caring relationships" she develops and fosters.
"It’s more collaboration, communication and basic children-oriented relationships involving parents and the community," he said.
"I think she is doing a great job," said Shirley Andrews, president of the 800-member Mukilteo Education Association. "She is in the buildings. Teachers know her. She is accessible. She listens and she is thoughtful."
In a typical workweek, Larsen attends after-school events three to five afternoons and evenings.
At Voyager Middle School, she visited a student book club where she was asked to — and did — read "Skeleton Man" by Joseph Bruchac.
Her calendar has included calling bingo at a PTA family event at Discovery Elementary School and visiting with students writing for the Columbia Elementary School newspaper.
She’s been to sporting events ranging from wrestling to diving.
Her presence is being noticed.
"Marci is one of those people you see in the school," said Alen Ozegovic, a Mariner High School senior who is a nonvoting student member of the school board. "She is just a face that is always there."
Ben Hirst, the student school board representative from ACES Alternative High School, told Larsen last week: "You are doing a wonderful job, as far as I can tell."
Larsen said she is committed to getting into schools and classrooms.
"I can do a better job when I have firsthand contact with the kids to remind me what we are here for," she said. "If you stay closed up in an office, I think it’s much easier to forget why we are here."
The hardest part of her transition has been learning when to back off.
"One of the challenging features is having been in the district and changed positions and roles, learning to step back and not to micromanage, because I have been so closely involved in the programs," she said.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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