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Blaine Selects Schools Chief: School Board Still Must Approve Contract, Salary

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Serena Lei, The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash.

Apr. 11--Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The Blaine School Board has selected Ron Spanjer of the Port Angeles School District to serve as its new superintendent.

Spanjer, who has 18 years of experience in school administration, will replace Mary Lynne Derrington, who is leaving to take a teaching job at Western Washington University.

Spanjer, who will begin his new job July 1, said he and his wife are "honored and thrilled. ... It really is a dream come true for us."

His contract still needs to be approved by the board, which will decide his salary. Spanjer makes $96,436 in Port Angeles. Derrington earns $119,480. The Port Angeles district has about twice as many students as Blaine.

In June, Spanjer will finish out his term as assistant superintendent for human resources and elementary programs in Port Angeles, a position he began in 2003.

Spanjer also chaired the Superintendent's Multi-Ethnic Committee, which reviews how well the district is educating minority students.

Gary Cohn, superintendent of Port Angeles Schools, credits Spanjer and the committee for the growth in student achievement among the district's American Indian population.

"Ron's a remarkable individual," Cohn said. "He's one of the people I've relied on ... for our leadership team."

Spanjer said he has high expectations for himself and the people he works with, but he offers lots of support.

"I believe in the value of being upfront and timely," Spanjer said. "My personality, my commitment is one of high ethics."

Spanjer said he feels well suited to smaller school districts because of the "cohesiveness of staff and programs and community."

In Port Angeles, Spanjer tackled a different enrollment challenge than he will face at Blaine. For the past several years, Port Angeles has experienced rapidly declining enrollment, at the rate of 100 to 150 students a year, because the area tends to attract retirees without school-age children.

Blaine, on the other hand, is steadily growing and is already considering a 2008 bond issue to pay for a new elementary school and a high school remodel.

Spanjer was one of two finalists chosen from a group of three candidates. Spanjer and finalist Tim Yeomans, assistant superintendent of the Mount Baker School District, met with staff and community members last week.

"It was a tough decision," said Blaine School Board member Mike Dodd. "We just thought he was the best candidate, experience-wise."

Derrington also once served as assistant superintendent in Port Angeles. She spent six years there before becoming superintendent at the Chimacum School District. Derrington was appointed to the Blaine School District in 2003.

"They are big shoes to fill," said board Chairwoman Pebble Griffin.

Reach Serena Lei at serena.lei@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2264.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, Wash.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Bellingham Herald, Wash.

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