Karst Brandsma was selected as South Kitsap School District interim superintendent following a July 19 public meeting at school district headquarters to interview three candidates for the position.

Here is South Kitsap School District’s statement on Brandsma’s hiring:

On July 19, 2016 the South Kitsap School District Board of Directors interviewed the three finalist candidates for the interim superintendent position. After the interviews, the board met in executive session, reviewed feedback from audience members, and discussed the qualifications of each candidate. The board returned to the open public meeting and voted unanimously to select Mr. Karst Brandsma as the interim superintendent.

“We are excited to welcome Karst Brandsma as our interim superintendent. He brings a wealth of experience as a school district administrator. This was a difficult decision because all three candidates were highly qualified professionals,” stated board president Greg Wall.

Mr. Brandsma earned his superintendent’s credentials from Seattle Pacific University, administrative credentials from Central Washington University, and Bachelors and Masters of Education from Eastern Washington University.

Mr. Brandsma has extensive experience and has held interim superintendent and district administrator positions with the Oak Harbor, Mt. Baker, and Bellingham School Districts. He retired from the Everett School District in 2009 after serving as Associate/Deputy Superintendent for eight years.

Mr. Brandsma’s contract will begin on August 1, 2016 and will extend through the 2016-2017 school year. He fills the role left by Dr. Michelle Reid who accepted the superintendent position at Northshore School District. Over the next several months, the board of directors will continue to work with Northwest Leadership Associates in a comprehensive search process for a permanent superintendent to take office July 1, 2017.

For more information, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 360-874-7001.