Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Colfax School District Board is negotiating with superintendent candidate Jerry Pugh with the outline of a contract now in hand.
Pugh, of Chewelah, was one of three candidates to visit Colfax in March to meet students, staff and community members and tour school facilities.
“There’s an agreement in principle,” said Dr. Dennis Ray, the consultant hired by the school board to aid their search, on Tuesday.
“We’re working out the details and should have an agreement for board approval at their next meeting. That’s the intent,” Ray said.
The board will meet next on Monday, April 13.
“We’re trying to do this as quickly as possible,” said board member David Nails.
If ultimately an agreement is signed and approved, it will conclude the process begun last Dec. 19 with the listing of the position to replace Michael Morgan.
The board hired Ray last fall, which led to a slate of 17 applicants for superintendent and the board inviting finalists to a visit.
Pugh came to town March 19 along with Roger Trail of Clarkston.
Following an appearance by Kathryn Orozco March 25, the board voted to approve negotiations to begin with Pugh, which would be led by board president Robert Smith and Ray.
The board reached its choice after meeting on each of the two interview days – Orozco was originally scheduled to appear with Pugh and Trail, but had to reschedule for another day.
Convening after the two community forums, the board went through the day’s evaluation sheets, which were filled out by students, staff and community members.
Overall, for the three candidates, Nails noted that feedback from the different groups were in alignment.
“Pretty unanimous,” he said.
Of the board’s original top three candidates, two of them dropped out after accepting other jobs – Mike Hamilton of Kalama and Steve McCullough of Curlew.
Pugh was the third candidate of the original three.
A native of Montana and father of five, he is the current principal of Gess Elementary in Chewelah. He served as the Chewelah District’s Superintendent Intern from 2011-13.
Morgan submitted his resignation after nine years as Colfax superintendent.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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