PORT ORCHARD — Karst Brandsma, interim superintendent of South Kitsap School District, will continue leading the district for an additional year.

The district’s board of directors agreed to extend Brandsma’s contract while meeting in executive session Jan. 11. The board officially announced the action during the public meeting following the executive session.

In September, the board had hired Northwest Leadership Associates, a candidate search group, to recruit candidates to replace Brandsma as permanent superintendent. The district had signed a contract for $17,800 to conduct the search. For now, the company’s search has been suspended.

Brandsma was selected as interim superintendent after Dr. Michelle Reid left her superintendent post in 2016 to lead Northshore School District in Bothell. His one-year contract began in August 2016 and was extended in January for the 2017-2018 school year. The most-recent extension keeps Brandsma in his interim role through the 2018-2019 school year.

“We are thankful that Mr. Brandsma was open to a contract extension,” Rebecca Diehl, board president, said after the public session.

“He has shown strong leadership through the final phase of grade reconfiguration this year and we will count on his expertise as we move forward with shifting elementary school boundaries, addressing our growing enrollment, facility needs and other initiatives.”

Prior to joining the South Kitsap School District, Brandsma served as 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 interim superintendent and associate/deputy superintendent for eight years.

Brandsma’s salary as South Kitsap School District interim superintendent is $158,464.