Bev Cheney has returned for a third stint in the South Kitsap School District.
But this time, she will not lead the district.
Cheney instead filled the assistant superintendent of instructional services void, which was created when Dave Colombini announced he would retire in December, on an interim basis through the end of the school year.
“This district has been very, very good to me,” Cheney said. “If there’s any way I can give back I’m happy to do so.”
Cheney, 65, initially came to SKSD when the Seattle native was hired in 2001 as superintendent from the Washoe County School District in Nevada. It was the first time Cheney had served as a superintendent. When Dave LaRose, who succeeded Cheney upon her retirement in 2008, left after four years to become California’s Culver City Unified School District’s superintendent, she returned to fill that role on an interim basis during the 2012-13 school year.
After her first stint in SKSD ended, Cheney served as interim superintendent of the Bremerton School District at the end of the 2008-09 school year and then joined Olympic College’s board of trustees.
Since last summer, Cheney has worked with the district as a paid consultant as SKSD expands its all-day kindergarten offerings and the implementation of the Spanish immersion program at Burley-Glenwood Elementary School.
Cheney’s contract specified that her work as a consultant not exceed $20,000. It estimated that she would be utilized for 300 hours at approximately $66 per hour. Superintendent Michelle Reid announced in March that the district would implement all-day kindergarten throughout SKSD by the 2016-17 school year.
“This worked out well because as a consultant you can only go so far,” said Cheney, referring to all-day kindergarten. “Now I can kind of see it to fruition and talk about the transition to first grade. It’s kind of rewarding for me to see it.”
Cheney said she will continue to work on those initiatives as she becomes familiar with her role, which Colombini held since the 2012-13 school year.
She now will work under the superintendent, Reid, who succeeded her in 2013.
“I have great respect for Michelle and her knowledge,” said Cheney, adding that she expects to return to retirement at the conclusion of the school year. “It gives an opportunity to look at how things are organized before she makes a [hiring] decision.”
Cheney said she met with Reid about taking the position on an interim basis during SKSD’s winter break.
“I am thrilled that Dr. Cheney is going to be working with us throughout the spring,” Reid said. “Bev is both gracious and amazing. The combination of her experience and wisdom will enable us to continue to build on the great traditions of this district and community. We are indeed blessed to have her expertise.”
