POULSBO — It’s been a tough year for North Kitsap School District Superintendent Patty Page.

She received a vote of no confidence from the teachers’ union, largely over her management style.

More than 400 parents, troubled by Page’s failure to communicate with them in a timely manner regarding a heating system that made students sick and sexual activity on a school bus for children with special needs, signed a petition backing the teachers.

The school board gave Page a favorable review — as well as a 1 percent raise — on July 14; with a state-mandated 1.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment, her annual salary got bumped from $153,000 to nearly $158,000.

But the school board also directed her to heal the rift in the education community.

“This year is the first time we’ve focused on stakeholder support and satisfaction,” school board president Beth Worthington said.

“We are very interested in building that relationship with [the North Kitsap Education Association] and that teachers understand their ideas they want in their environment are a part of that success as well.”

To show her commitment to improving stakeholder satisfaction, Page and the school board have established a set of goals for the school year. However, Page said they’re in the brainstorming phase on exactly how to make that happen.

She is meeting with new NKEA president Mike McCorkle to restore the relationship with the NKEA, develop an understanding of concerns and create a plan to ensure teachers and parents are satisfied with school district performance.

“He and I have met several times and have regular scheduled meetings planned,” Page said. “We are making a plan beneficial to all of us. I value and trust his suggestions.”

This fall, the district will survey staff members, parents, students and community members. In response to concerns about student security on buses, security cameras will be installed on all NKSD buses.

“When the buses roll, they’ll all have cameras on them,” Page said.

However, some teachers say it remains to be seen how committed Page will be; she retires at the end of the 2016-17 school year.

“I’m extremely depressed with the action that the board took,” retired teacher Randy Powell said. “It just doesn’t jive. I think the [pay] raise is going too far.”

Worthington responded, “She’s doing everything that a superintendent needs to be doing and she’s doing it well.”

‘More concerns than in other places’
Page, a North Kitsap High School graduate whose administrative career includes serving as a principal in Yakima and as superintendent in Coupeville, has almost 35 years of experience as an educator.

She said she had never before had an experience like the one she’s had in North Kitsap.

She said some difficult changes during her tenure set a negative tone. She joined the district in 2012 during a budget shortfall and “we had to correct that course.” During that course, Breidablik Elementary School was closed.

“I knew coming into this district there were more concerns than [in] other places,” she said. “There’s a myriad of things that have all coalesced that probably have rocked the boat … I just think there’s no one single answer. It’s a complex issue and there won’t be one single fix.

“We’ve got almost 6,000 students whose education is on the line every day. We’ve got 1,000 employees and we have, this coming year, a $76 million budget. We’re not a small organization. We are working to institute things that are effective in helping students to reach their full potential.”

In anticipation of the upcoming superintendent search, board members are consulting neighboring school districts to develop a hiring strategy.

Worthington said she recently met with South Kitsap School Board President Greg Wall to hear about their experience in recruiting a superintendent; this week, that district hired former Oak Harbor School District superintendent Karst Brandsma as interim superintendent while it continues its search.

The North Kitsap School Board has invited Sheila Jakubik, vice president of the Bainbridge Island School Board, to its Aug. 18 meeting to discuss Bainbridge’s superintendent search.

“This will be an opportunity for us to be very deliberate and intentional,” Worthington said. “We’re looking forward to having those conversations.”

Meanwhile, Page said she remains committed as ever as she enters her final  year before retirement.

“There’s a lot of things that go on, but our core value and mission is to make sure that every child gets the education that they need,” Page said.

“It’s something I’m committed to, [and] the board, the district leadership and the union are committed to as well.”