Othello district extends superintendent's contract
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald Former Othello district administrator Matt Stevens gave an emotional farewell speech at Monday’s Othello School Board meeting. Stevens accepted a job in the East Valley School District in Spokane.
OTHELLO — Othello School Board members voted 5-0 to extend the contract of district superintendent Chris Hurst.
Hurst’s two-year contract was extended for another year, to expire in June 2019. His salary will be $150,000, with a $25,000 incentive if his contract is renewed before June 30. Hurst is also eligible for up to $20,000 in additional salary, if the district meets specific goals listed in board policies. Each of the eight goals is worth $2,500.
The 2016-17 school year was Hurst’s first in the district. “Been quite a year,” Hurst said. He came to Othello with a specific set of goals, and is working to put them in place. “As I reflect back, we have been on the move.” Sometimes it’s been challenging, Hurst said, and he thanked the board for their public and private support.
Board member Juan Garza said he talked to staff members before school started in August, saying the only constant is change and Othello had to learn to adapt to changes in education. “We found that change agent that we needed,” Garza said.
In other business at the regular board meeting Monday, Hurst announced Sandra Villareal was hired as the district’s executive director of human resources. She replaces Matt Stevens, who resigned to take a job as principal of East Valley High School in Spokane.
Stevens was a teacher, principal and administrator in Othello for 20 years. Board members gave him a plaque of appreciation.
Stevens was a teacher at Othello High School, assistant OHS principal, then OHS principal from 2006 to 2012. He worked at the district office for five years.
“I guess just three thank-yous,” Stevens said, including his co-workers “for being good people and making me look so good.” He expressed gratitude to Othello residents for the kindness they had shown his family.
“The second thank you to those who extended grace and forgiveness for the obvious missteps and difficult things that have happened over my career, the kindness extended to me when things don’t go as easily as maybe they should. The third thank you is maybe a hope that I helped solve more problems than I created. Thanks for 20 good years.”
Garza said the board also wanted to recognize Lori Scott, who had worked for the district for 27 years, and Mike Villareal, who worked for the district 10 years.