Pasco school board to take final vote on superintendent’s successor

After a year of work and preparation, Michelle Whitney, the future superintendent of the Pasco School District, is about to have her final exam.

The school board expects to vote Feb. 23 to confirm the 20-year district veteran to replace Superintendent Saundra Hill when Hill retires in June.

The unanimous choice of Whitney last year to lead the district was conditional and controversial.

Her contract as Hill’s successor required her to work as a deputy superintendent for a year, shadowing Hill and eventually taking on more duties.

Some in the community criticized the recruiting process, saying Whitney wasn’t as qualified as other top applicants and that her position as an insider made her selection a foregone conclusion. She beat out candidates from around the state and nation for the job after a two-month search.

Board members have denied the accusation of bias and seem solid in their original choice. And though Whitney critic Aaron Richardson has replaced former president Ryan Brault on the board, there’s no reason to believe she won’t be confirmed.

Board President Scott Lehrman, in an interview last week, said Whitney has performed well since her appointment, and he anticipated that the board would affirm last year’s decision.

Residents have told Lehrman they’ve moved past the controversy and are embracing her as the district’s future leader, he said.

“I have heard people in the community say they are happy with how Michelle has moved forward,” he said.

‘More and more inspired’

Whitney’s preparation during the past year has ranged from overseeing the district’s curriculum and professional development efforts to participating in community meetings.

She developed a three-year technology plan for what equipment will be needed in schools and how it will be used in classroom instruction.

Her obligations included riding a district bus during one of its routine routes.

“I just feel more and more inspired,” Whitney told the Herald.

Her contract was altered after Hill went on medical leave in November, leaving Whitney to take on duties the current superintendent was still handling. Hill recently returned to work.

Whitney herself took medical leave around Christmas, requiring the board to postpone her first review until late January.

The contract required her to be twice evaluated by the board, which conducted her second and final review during a closed-door session after its Feb. 9 meeting.

“I am pleased with what I’ve seen from her,” Lehrman said of Whitney’s performance.

Whitney began her career in education as a Pasco kindergarten teacher almost 20 years ago, before becoming an administrator. She’s received good ideas from the public, school administrators and teachers, she said.

“I’m thrilled to have been a part of this past year,” Whitney said.

Steps toward transparency

Richardson used Whitney’s selection as one of the components of his election campaign to oust Brault from his seat on the school board.

In a recent interview, Richardson declined to revisit his opposition to Whitney’s hire.

He also didn’t want to talk about his views of Whitney’s performance, saying that was part of closed-door discussions.

“I am not willing to be critical of the board’s past decisions at this time, but am anxious to move forward in a positive way,” Richardson said.

He has been pleased with the steps the district has taken toward transparency, he said. The district is videotaping board meetings and posting them online.

There are more community forums and increased interaction between board members and the public during board meetings, Richardson said.

“I have tried to be very open with my thoughts and feelings about issues affecting our school district, so the public knows where I stand, and I will continue to do so,” he said.

“I feel this is my responsibility as an elected official. I will approach the upcoming issue of confirming Ms. Whitney in the same way,” he added.

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Pasco school board to take final vote on superintendent’s successor."