JEWELL The aura seemed positive when the Jewell School District hired Jim Carlile, a former superintendent in the Knappa School District, to facilitate a grievance process between faculty, staff and Superintendent Brian Gander.

State Sen. Betsy Johnson was in attendance as school board officially accepted the resignation of Gander Monday and didnt waste much time in finding an interim option.

I think someone like Mr. Carlile would be good for superintendent, said Board Chairwoman Jennifer Blanchard. She was joined in her sentiments by board member Ginger Kaczenski and members of the audience, who at times applauded Carlile for his work in the facilitation process.

I think Mr. Carlile is open to the possibility, said James Sager, the superintendent of the Northwest Regional Education Service District who is now in his third day serving as the superintendent at Jewell. He added that if there is no agreement, there needs to be an open discussion about what qualities the district wants in a superintendent.

Sager said it is his responsibility to help the district find an interim superintendent.

I have talked about a psychological evaluation for a long-term superintendent, said Kaczenski.

Carlile wouldnt yet comment on the possibility of being the interim superintendent. He said Sager has provided Jewell with a valuable service, all while still working a full-time job in Hillsboro.

Resignation

Gander wrote in his resignation letter, It has been my honor to have served the district over the past three years and my hope (is) that the work we have done will serve the students, their families and staff at Jewell School well. His resignation is based on a settlement agreement the district has been working on with him. The details of the settlement, which has not yet been signed, remain confidential pending legal review.

Im glad that the board has put the question of their leadership behind them, and I hope the community can come together and move forward, said Johnson.

The school board shuffled its deck, with Jennifer Blanchard resigning her post as board chairwoman and board member Matt Armstrong, the most recent addition after the departure of former member Sherrine Marlow, becoming the new board chairman and media spokesman.

Community member Allen Foster said that Kaczenski should resign from the board because she broke board policy and put the districts financial assets at risk by releasing information about complaints leveled against Gander to The Daily Astorian.

Jewell student Randi Harhart, in a letter read aloud by Blanchard, said Sarah Gander, Brian Ganders wife and the schools librarian and technology specialist, leaving the school would be a big loss. Harhart said Gander helped advise the senior class, organize the prom and was always available for and respectful to students.

Budget passes

The school board passed its budget, which will be $12,496,482, by the end of the fiscal year June 30. The general fund will be $3.9 million, with another $749,064 going into investments and $150,000 into a contingency fund.

The biggest changes in the budget will be the potential loss of one grade-school teacher, because Shelly Alford resigned. Kristin Kuhnly, a cook at Jewell School, said she was willing to take a pay freeze if it meant keeping the teacher.

The board hasnt decided yet on whether to refill her position. It is also considering whether to keep school counselor Sharyn Hedbloom.

Reading a letter from Hedbloom, Lynn Cavin said, The school must retain a counselor, whether or not its me. Hedbloom wrote that the counselor is an integral part in the overall development of students.

The board set the tax rate on properties in its district at $3.769 per $1,000 of assessed value on all taxable property within the district. For 2012-13, district forecasts $2,478,000 in timber revenue, its main source of funding.

Ryan Sunnell, maintenance supervisor for the district, said the permits for the building of a new barn on campus are almost in hand, and that excavation might start next week. Construction on Jewells new baseball field will start in August.

In other news, the board:

Adopted a calendar for 2012-13.

Talked about trying to find a new science teacher to replace the retiring Dave Hiebert. We basically need to find a science teacher who can teach everything and do a really good job, Sager said.

Delayed the approval of contracts it is negotiating with nonrepresented employees, including school secretary Allyce Chronister, new business manager Betsy Barnes and Sunnell, pending changes.