By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The School Board has chosen former district superintendent Steve Bradshaw to fill in next year while the district searches for a permanent superintendent to replace Frank Hauser, who is resigning at the end of the school year.
The board voted unanimously at a special meeting Monday night to hire Bradshaw for the temporary position.
Bradshaw, who now lives in Montana, was Sitka High School principal for several years before becoming superintendent, a post he held for more than a decade, until 2014.
Steve Bradshaw (Sentinel File Photo)
“The Sitka School Board has offered Steve Bradshaw the position of interim superintendent. He has accepted,” board president Blossom Teal-Olsen told the Sentinel following Monday’s vote. A contract is being finalized, she said.
“What makes Steve stand out as a candidate was his commitment and overall dedication to his work here in previous years to Sitka,” Teal-Olsen said. “We’re excited to be working with him.”
Bradshaw will take up the job at the start of July when Hauser vacates the post. In an online interview with the board earlier this month, Bradshaw requested that, if he was hired, the board also consider hiring an assistant superintendent, a position that has been vacant the past several years.
“There have been discussions about an assistant superintendent being added on to the budget,” Teal-Olsen said. “At this time, we’re working towards finalizing the budget.”
The position would cost about $170,000, Hauser noted.
Bradshaw was one of two candidates for the interim job. The other was Helen Cheek, current superintendent of the Iditarod School District.
In other business as the special meeting, the board accepted the resignation of board member Mitch Mork.
Mork left the meeting early and participated in the superintendent vote by phone.
“I’m leaving this (meeting) early because I already had obligations,” Mork said. “This happens a lot. (With) the time conflict during the evenings with what I’ve already got going on, I don’t feel like I do this justice. So I’m going to step aside and let somebody else who has the time that they can dedicate more to this.”
Board member Tristan Guevin thanked Mork for his service on the board and his dedication to students in Sitka. “I know one of the reasons he is stepping down is to be able to just spend more time helping our kids and serving our community,” Guevin said.
Teal-Olsen said, “To mirror that statement, Mitch. You’re currently not here because you are committed to the children of Sitka and your service. You’ve definitely stepped up well on the School Board.”
