The San Juan Island School Board plans to hire an interim school superintendent for the 2009-10 school year. The decision was made Monday at a special school board meeting in the district office.

A job description will be posted on the San Juan Island School District Web site. The deadline for applications and resumes is May 8.

The district began searching for a new superintendent earlier this spring. However, the school board was not satisfied with the pool of applicants they received for the permanent position, and decided to fill the vacancy with an interim superintendent until a thorough superintendent search can be completed.

Search consultant John Fotheringham of Northwest Leadership Associates was hired to assist in the superintendent search process. He met with faculty, staff, parents, students and community members on March 19.

The school board will begin the search for a permanent school superintendent in January 2010.

School board members are opposed to sharing a superintendent with another district in the county because of the larger number of students and traveling time between islands. The Lopez Island School District is recruiting a part-time superintendent.

San Juan Island Superintendent Michael Soltman has accepted a position as superintendent of Vashon Island schools. His resignation is effective on June 30. He has been the San Juan Island School District’s superintendent since 2002 and is paid $108,400.