Evergreen Public Schools Superintendent John Steach submitted his resignation just minutes before Tuesday’s board of directors meeting.
Steach’s letter of resignation, read by board President Julie Bocanegra, was short, praising the district for its growth and expressing gratitude that this month’s levies passed.
“I ask that you will respect my privacy and understand my desire to not discuss the reasons for my personal decision,” he wrote.
But any information about a severance package — if Steach is receiving one — was not available. District representatives directed The Columbian to file a public records request for the information.
Steach’s base salary was $242,584 for the 2018-2019 school year. His contract allows the board to terminate his employment at any time, but it requires that the board establish sufficient cause for termination. If there is no sufficient cause, the district must pay Steach the equivalent of a year’s salary.
The only additional information spokeswoman Gail Spolar would provide is that Steach’s departure is not connected to any kind of malfeasance or misfeasance. If it had been, she said, the district would have placed him on administrative leave.
Steach was appointed to the superintendent position in 2017. His tenure was marked by teacher strikes, successful school funding measures and expected budget cuts.
Chief operations officer Mike Merlino stepped into the position on an interim basis on Monday. It’s unclear whether the district will pursue a public search for a more permanent successor or, as it did with Steach, promote from within.
Merlino said he “hit the ground running,” meeting with principals and discussing potential budget cuts for the 2019-2020 school year. He announced a spending freeze at the district level, and committed to a “transparent process” as further decisions are made about the district budget.
“I feel like we’re changing the path on a collaborative path to get us where we need to be,” Merlino said.
Board appoints Rogers
The school board also appointed Rachael Rogers, Clark County senior deputy prosecuting attorney, to fill the board vacancy left by Todd Yuzuriha.
Rogers has two young children, one of whom is a first-grader at Fisher’s Landing Elementary School. She also coaches Hockinson High School’s mock trial team.
In her letter of interest, Rogers wrote that she was at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day benefit recently when the speaker asked, “What’s one more thing you could do to be involved?” A few days later, Roger received notice that the school board position was opening.
It was timing Rogers couldn’t ignore, she said.
“I could really make the best positive contribution to our society,” Rogers said.
Rogers said she was also motivated to get more involved after watching teachers in the Evergreen school district go on strike. Rogers said the biggest issue was a “breakdown in communication,” and hopes she can bring a more collaborative approach to those types of “hard, complicated, messy” situations.
“I thought I could help with getting out the unified message of ‘this is what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re trying to achieve it,’” she said.
Rogers will be sworn in on March 12. The position will be up for election for a four-year term in November.
