It’s a bittersweet time for Patty Page.
The Coupeville School District Superintendent has loved her tenure on Central Whidbey Island but decided to take a new position that bring her closer to her family.
The North Kitsap School District school board Monday evening named Page the new superintendent of the 6,700-student district that operates schools in Poulsbo, Kingston, Hansville, Indianola and Suquamish and has a $63.5 million budget.
Page said that she was invested and loved working in Coupeville but had to take the opportunity to apply at a school district in the community where she grew up. The move would put her closer to her mother.
“It’s an exciting and sad time,” Page said. Applying for the North Kitsap position was a one-time deal because she wasn’t actively searching for a new job.
She said she’s accepted the position but a contract still has to be approved.
In the meantime, she will serve as Coupeville’s superintendent until June 30.
The Coupeville School Board knew that she was interested in the North Kitsap position before she applied, Page said. She informed staff about the potential change when she was named a finalist, as reported in the Whidbey News-Times last week. She then emailed staff Tuesday morning to inform them she had accepted the position.
Page has been the superintendent of the Coupeville School District since 2007. She has led the 970-student school district during a time when leaders had to make significant cutbacks due to budget woes while still providing an education program that has earned state recognition for performance on test scores.
With Page’s pending departure, the process for finding a suitable replacement is sure to be discussed at the next Coupeville School Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 26 in the Coupeville Elementary School Library.
Page said the school board could consider finding a permanent replacement or hiring an interim superintendent. Because it is so late in the school year, the school district might not find a large pool of candidates.
She expressed confidence at the board’s ability to find her replacement.
“We’ve got an amazing board who will take time to do what’s right for the district,” Page said.
