Holmes to return to La Center to lead schools

The La Center School District will have a new superintendent starting July 1, and it’s a familiar face.

Dave Holmes, who has been the superintendent at Three Rivers School District in Grants Pass, Ore., since 2014, is returning to La Center to take over for Mark Mansell, who announced in September that he would retire after this school year.

Prior to working at Three Rivers, Holmes was La Center’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning from 2010 to 2014. Holmes started working at La Center in 1993 as a teacher, and has held positions in the district as La Center High School’s principal and vice principal. He also worked many years as the high school’s track and field and cross country coach.

According to a release from the district, Holmes said he’s “extremely excited to come home to the La Center community” and is “even more excited to have the opportunity to work again with the outstanding educational team at La Center.”

In the same release, Mansell said he will work with Holmes throughout the next three months to make for a smooth transition. Mansell has been the district’s superintendent for the last 11 years.

“We know Dave and Dave knows us,” Mansell said in the release. “He’ll be an outstanding superintendent.”

Holmes was named one of four finalists for the position earlier this month, and on March 10, he and his fellow finalists visited with various groups in the district, including students, staff and administrators. The following day, the finalists all had individual meetings with the school board.

The La Center School District’s board announced the hire on Tuesday, and according to the district’s release, decided on Holmes partially for his familiarity with the district.

Adam Littman: 360-735-4518; adam.littman@columbian.com; twitter.com/a_littman