COUPEVILLE: King to leave school district (WNT)
Luisa Loi reports from the Coupeville School District for the Whidbey News-Times.
The past seven months have brought great change to the Coupeville School District, with controversial budget cuts, the elimination and subsequent return of a beloved dean of students and the absence of the assistant principal, among other things.
The latest chapter in this series is Superintendent Steve King’s announcement that he will resign at the end of the school year, with his last day being June 28, 2024.
They Said It
In a letter sent to the Board of Directors on Jan. 4, King said the past six years have been particularly challenging and have taken a toll on his health.
“When I came to the district in the summer of 2018 there was great alignment between my core values and the expectations of the job of Coupeville Superintendent,” King wrote in the letter, mentioning the changes the world and Coupeville have gone through during his tenure. “It is clear that the alignment, unity and sense of purpose I felt when I took this position have diminished to the point that I need to step away.”
King said his decision to leave had nothing to do with the board’s upcoming discussion about whether to extend his contract. In an email, he said he has no idea whether his contract would have been extended or not. Currently, his contract runs until June 2025, so that did not influence his decision, he wrote.
In previous meetings with the board, community members have expressed their disapproval about the cost of the school’s food program, which they argued should not have taken priority over things such as paraeducator hours. Board Member Sherry Phay echoed this opinion, and when the rest of the board voted to approve the budget cuts back in July, she represented the lone “nay” vote.
King defended the Connected Food program, saying it has been very successful since it began in 2019 and was recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture. “Yes, we have had increases in expenses but we have also had increases in revenues and participation,” he wrote.
King said he doesn’t have plans for the future yet, but he has been considering relocating close to his grandchildren who no longer live in the area — which he added is part of the reason why he is resigning.
In a statement emailed to the Whidbey News-Times, Board Member Morgan White thanked King for his service on behalf of the board and the district. She announced the board will conduct a retreat this week to discuss next steps and will inform the community about the plan as soon as possible.
