The Central Kitsap School Board has selected a search firm to help replace out-going superintendent Greg Lynch. That search will take place in two parts — first an interim superintendent will be established, and then a search for a permanent superintendent will take place in the fall.

NW Leadership Associates was selected, from the two firms considered, to guide the district’s search.

After hearing presentations from company representatives with both NW Leadership Associates and McPherson & Jacobson, the board voted unanimously in favor of the NW Leadership.

“They were both excellent presentations,” said board member Eric Greene. “I think we just went with the one that felt a little more right.”

Dennis Ray and NW Leadership Associates helped South Kitsap in its February search for a superintendent. It was also the firm used by Central Kitsap to find Greg Lynch nine years ago and recently connected Lynch with his new employer, the Olympic Educational Service District 114.

During the planning session that followed, the board elected to fill the position with an interim candidate before looking for a permanent replacement to Lynch. The interim candidate should be in place when Lynch leaves at the end of June.

We’ll come back to do a full-blown search for a new longterm superintendent in the fall,” Greene said.

Since the superintendent announced his plan to leave on March 29, the board has only a short while to find a replacement before his departure.

Because of that condensed time-frame, Greene said the board decided to postpone the search for a permanent replacement until the fall so that all stakeholders will have time to give input into the selection process.

“It’s about doing it right and ensuring that everybody that needs to be heard is heard,” he said.