Familiar face returning again to Richland schools. This time he’s taking on 2 jobs
A familiar face to the Richland School District is returning at a turbulent time.
Ken Gosney, the former principal and school board member, has been hired as the district’s assistant superintendent of human capital and operations.
The new role will merge two positions — the district’s executive director of operations and executive director of human resources — that have been cut for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.
“I am honored to return to a district that holds such deep personal and professional significance,” he said in a statement provided by the district.
“I look forward to supporting our talented team, strengthening our systems and ensuring we operate in ways that are equitable, efficient and aligned with the needs of our students and community,” Gosney continued.
His hiring was approved in the school board’s Tuesday night consent agenda.
The district confirmed earlier this month that Richard Krasner’s position leading operations would be eliminated at the end of the school year.
Meanwhile, Tim Praino, the district’s HR director, plans to retire Sept. 30, Dinh said.
Praino and Krasner earned base salaries of about $190,680 each.
Shawna Dinh, the district’s public information officer, did not provide information on Gosney’s salary. But a screenshot of the job posting listed a range of $186,000 to $202,000.
“By merging these responsibilities under one leadership position, the district is streamlining its administrative structure and achieving cost savings, while strengthening alignment between organizational strategy and operational excellence,” Dinh said in a statement.
Richland School District has begun to make cuts for the 2025-26 school year, announcing earlier this month plans to eliminate several nurse and librarian positions.
Earlier this school year, it made steep cuts to paraeducators, vacant positions in the admin office and in schools, non-essential spending, facilities and operations and athletics transportation to help fill a $3 million gap.
Gosney’s hiring is part of a strategic reorganization Superintendent Shelley Redinger is making to trim executive positions at the Teaching, Learning and Administration Center.
From teacher to Goodwill CEO
Gosney, 53, most recently served as CEO of Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada.
He worked 16 years as an educator and administrator, including serving as Hanford High School’s principal from 2008 to 2015 and as assistant principal in 2003-08.
Administrators say he had a reputation of fostering positive school culture, supporting staff growth and implementing programs that improved student outcomes.
After that, he worked six years as the CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Columbia — which operates in 13 counties in South Central Washington and Northeast Oregon — before leaving in January 2022 to serve as the Sacramento chief.
In California, Gosney oversaw enterprise initiatives focused on “workforce empowerment, equity and operational excellence,” said the school district. Filings from 2023 show he made about $468,000 in as its CEO.
But he stepped down from Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada in December as the nonprofit began to “restructure” its executive team.
Gosney was appointed to serve on the Richland School Board in 2020 following the departure of former board member Rick Donahue.
He served about a year starting in 2020, but didn’t seek election to the seat that was won by Misipati “Semi” Bird.
Gosney replaced a former Sacramento CEO who was terminated in July 2021 following a disastrous audit that showed a misappropriation of funds.
That chief, Richard Alan Abrusci, faces allegations of embezzlement and fraud, according to a Sacramento Bee report.
A series of grand jury indictments accuse Abrusci of taking $1.4 million “from a nonprofit organization that operates a chain of retail stores in California and Nevada.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM.
