Justin Blasko
MONROE — Preferring to stay the course for how the district is working, the school board last week appointed Justin Blasko to be the next superintendent.
Blasko is currently the district’s assistant superintendent of school and student support.
He ascends to being its chief on July 1, pending contract approval.
School board members could have hired a professional search firm, but in a discussion last week, they keyed in on two points: Recruiting someone would take months, and the board wants to continue the path Superintendent Fredrika Smith has forged since being hired in 2015.
“We were very intentional in the process” in selecting Smith to supersede prior superintendent Ken Hoover, district human resources director Joanne Dickinson told the board. Hoover retired after eight years leading the district.
Smith announced in December that she is leaving at the end of the school year for a position with the Northwest Educational Services District.
Blasko’s contract would be for three years. The salary is not final.
Smith’s salary is $222,186.
Blasko, 48, earned his doctorate’s in education in 2016. He joined the school district 10 years ago.
The school board’s vote to appoint Blasko was unanimous.
