Waterville School Board Appoints Mike Parker as Interim Superintendent for Next School Year

Mike Parker, a retired Superintendent and now independent Educational Consultant was selected to become the Waterville Superintendent for the 2024-25 school year. He replaces Penny Brown whose contract with the District will end on June 30.

Parker has more than 45 years of experience in public education serving many roles during this time including school custodian, high school teacher, assistant principal/athletic director, principal and superintendent. He’s been a superintendent in four different districts including Concrete, Hoquiam, Inchelium and most recently in Pateros.

Since his retirement in 2017, Parker has been an educational consultant and superintendent search advisor with McPherson and Jacobsen Executive Recruitment and Development firm in Omaha, Nebraska and has represented over 15 different schools as Lead Negoiator at the bargaining table with the unions.

During his time in education, Parker served as an assistant principal/athletic director for the Lake Chelan School District and how he resides in Orondo with his wife Bobbi, a former school teacher who most recently taught in the Orondo School District. Bobbi is now a member of the Orondo School Board.

Parkers have five grown children; Justin, Kelli, Kayci, Zachary and Kelci, three of whom-Justin, Kelli and Kelci are also school teachers.

Mike says he looks forward to working with the community, the staff and students to advance the good work done by Penny and her team. “It’s a thrill for me to work in the Waterville community” says Parker.

His contract with the District will begin July 1, although he is currently working with the district in a consultant role as it builds it’s school budget for 2024-25.

2024-2025 Superintendent Update 05/03/2024

Dear Waterville Community,

Since my appointment as Interim part-time Superintendent by the Waterville School Board for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, I’ve been fortunate to have met many wonderful staff members and community patrons. Waterville is certainly a special place.

This spring, I’ve been asked by the Board to help the district with its finances and assist Business Manager Kaionni DeShazer in building a responsible school budget for 2024-25. Since March, I’ve done just that- using my 44 years of experience in public schools to assist her in any way possible. Kaionni is doing incredible work for someone who is a newly appointed Business Manager.

My official start date will be July 1. As an Interim part-time Superintendent, I intend to be in district 2-3 times each week.

Part of the work that I have been doing since March is to adjust staffing for the 2024-25 school year to our projected revenue for 2024-25. Student enrollment in Waterville is declining. And because the state funds all districts based primarily on student enrollment; this will be a problem. With declining enrollment, we will receive less state dollars next year. As a result, we’ve had to reduce our teaching staff next year by two teachers. This is so unfortunate.

In addition to these changes, Middle/High School Principal Jon Gasbar will become the TK-12 Principal for the next school year. District wide there will only be one full time administrator and myself at half time. In 2024-25.

State funding for schools is not what it should be and this funding is not aligned or consistent to our own state constitution….but this is conversation for a later date. In meetings held at the local ESD, we’ve learned that Waterville is not alone in it’s financial struggles. There are a number of districts facing worse financial futures than what we do in Waterville.

With staffing adjustments and other cuts, the Waterville School District will be “leaner’ next year. Yet, I’m confident we’ll make it through these challenging financial times. The Waterville community is supportive and the district and its staff is resilient.

It’s a blessing for me to have this opportunity to use my skills and experiences to help your community this next school year.

I look forward to meeting each of you soon.

Sincerely,

Mike Parker

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