Wenatchee School Board Knows Who It Wants As Next Superintendent

A slip of the tongue lets loose a decision that’s not official yet. A race for superintendent may be over, but isn’t going to be called until the T’s are crossed and the I’s are dotted, as Marcus Bellissimo reports.

On Friday, the Wenatchee School Board voted 4-1 to enter into contract negotiations with Paul Gordon to be the next superintendent. An offer will be made to Gordon, which he can accept or decline, and reveal his decision as early as today.

The identity of the selected candidate was intended to remain a secret, but a member of the board identified the candidate as being from Chicago. Of the three finalists, only one is from that area. Gordon comes from a large school district in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The other two finalists are Michael Musick, Superintendent of the Lake Oswego School District in Oregon; and Shawn Woodward, Superintendent of the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

The board is seeking a replacement for Brian Flones, who has been superintendent for 19 years. Last year, the board approved Flones’ request to be let out of his contract at the end of the current school year, one year before his contract expires. His last day is in August.

The Wenatchee school meets tonight to further deliberate.