Karst Brandsma to lead SKSD through upcoming school year

Published 6:16 pm Wednesday, July 20, 2016

South Kitsap School District’s board of directors unanimously selected Karst Brandsma, former educator with Oak Harbor and Mount Baker school districts, as interim superintendent for the 2016-17 school year.

Brandsma was one of three finalists interviewed by the school board July 19 at an public meeting at the school district offices. Dr. Jan Pryne, who most recently worked as a mentor principal in South Kitsap after a five-year stint as superintendent in Port Angeles, also was interviewed. The third candidate was Dr. Tony Apostle, who served as superintendent of the Puyallup School District for eight years before working as the interim superintendent in Kent last year.

The new interim superintendent, who has worked in education since 1976, said he was interested in the position because of his interest in administration work.

“I missed it,” he said to the board and an overflow audience of community members. “I have something to contribute to the South Kitsap School District. This district is on the move and it would be an honor to help move that work forward.”

Prior to accepting the position, Brandsma worked for several districts as interim or acting superintendent, including at Oak Harbor School District (2013-14), Mount Baker School District (2011-12) and Everett Public Schools (2008-09).

Although the board surmised his experience would be an asset to the school directors and district staff who are in the process of making several big changes, Brandsma’s resume and his short stays at several districts was concerning to a number of community members who seemed to voice stronger support for other candidates.

“I’m a coach for life and a teacher for life,” Brandsma said, responding to questions regarding his resume. He readily agreed by pointing out his frequent movement between districts and positions.

During the meeting, audience members were given copies of each candidate’s resume, as well as candidate feedback forms for them to leave comments for the board members.

Brandsma’s strongest attribute was his experience in passing bonds and levies for several school districts in which he’s worked.

Along with a maintenance levy the school board needs to pass next year, it’s no secret that a third attempt to approve a construction bond to build a second high school in Port Orchard is also on their agenda.

“I’ve a repertoire of strategies to provide information to the public to help the community make a decision, but not try and force them to vote a certain way,” he said.

Two examples of his work included passing a bond by 65 percent at the Bellingham School District in 2010. He also was successful passing a bond measure in Anacortes — also by 65 percent.

“I like to say I helped,” he said. “It matters how you act every day and how you treat the people you want to support you.”

Controversy

While serving as deputy superintendent for Everett School District in 2008, Brandsma was involved in an incident in which the door leading into a classroom of a controversial Cascade High School teacher was secretly videotaped to determine if she was helping students work on an underground newspaper.

A resulting investigation reported that ”Deputy Superintendent Brandsma authorized video monitoring from the hallway looking at the door to Kay Powers’ classroom to determine if students were frequenting her classroom late at night or on weekends in violation of school policies and the district directives to Kay Powers.”

When asked by the SKSD board, Brandsma denied he authorized the taping and said he was only acting on orders by district superintendent Carol Whitehead to do so.

Although the incident cast a negative light on Brandsma’s application, he was ultimately promoted twice after the incident and gained support from the district’s community members.

During the interview, Brandsma described his leadership style as open, and expressed his desire to work closely with the board.

“I believe ideas are better received if people have had the opportunity to join in the process,” he said.

“I know the value of inclusion but also know, at some point, decisions need to be made. I feel comfortable making those decisions.”

Brandsma will work with former SKSD Superintendent Michelle Reid to learn more about the district and hopes to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Reid accepted a position in June as superintendent of Northshore School District, with headquarters in Bothell.

“While I am looking forward to assuming the superintendent of Northshore Schools position, this is difficult, as I have considered myself so blessed to have had the opportunity to serve such an amazing community and school district,” Reid said in a written statement last month.

Brandsma’s contract will run from August 1 and extend through the 2016-2017 school year.

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, who is to take office July 1, 2017.

Note: An article in the July 22 print edition of the Independent refers to Brandsma in one instance as having a doctorate. He does not. He earned his superintendent’s credentials from Seattle Pacific University, administrative credentials from Central Washington University, and bachelor’s and master’s of education from Eastern Washington University.