The Highline School District will have an interim superintendent for about a year before a permanent replacement is picked to take over for John Welch, board president Sili Savusa announced March 23.

The board hopes to name a new superintendent by spring 2012, according to Savusa. She said more details of the board's selection process will be sent to parents in the next few weeks.

"We want a process that is thoughtful and respectful," Savusa noted.

Welch has announced he will leave the Highline district in August to become superintendent of the Puget Sound Educational Service District. He joined the district as deputy superintendent in 2002 and was promoted to superintendent in 2005. He has two daughters in district schools.

Puget Sound is one of nine regional educational districts that serve public and private schools in the state. The agency used to be headquartered in downtown Burien but moved to Renton.

Welch will share Puget Sound superintendent duties with Dr. Monte Bridges until Bridges retires on June 30, 2012.
At the March 23 Highline board meeting, Welch said it was a difficult decision to leave the district but working at the regional level appealed to him.

"I want to say thank you to everyone," Welch said. "This has been the best nine years of my working life. I can't think of a better place to be. It's been an honor."

Parent Meg VanWyk thanked Welch for being "a very good listener."