BRINNON — The new joint superintendent for Brinnon and Quilcene school districts is now on the job preparing both districts for the next school year.

Wally F. Lis, 56, was chosen to take over from Quilcene Superintendent Dave Anderson and Brinnon Superintendent Nancy Thompson, both of whom retired last month.

With the timing of both retirements, both school districts’ boards decided to share a new superintendent.

“Right now, I am working on budgets and schedules and the kinds of things that every school does during the summertime,” Lis said.

The school boards on either side of Mount Walker selected Lis to work half time for each district with a combined salary of $92,000.

Board members opted for sharing the position because, they said, the higher salary than either could pay individually would attract better candidates.

During the selection process, members of both boards said the action was not a consolidation of the two districts, but a combination of resources.

On Thursday, Lis said he is ready to supervise each district with regard to its individual requirements, but the most difficult task is “to be in more than one place at one time.”

“There are times that you want to be at school such as the first day of classes,” he said.

“But the districts are close to each other, so if an emergency happens, I can get there in a hurry.”

Lis said the two districts will coordinate events such as teacher in-service training and guest speakers.

He said both districts face the same challenges brought about by state cuts to education and a shortage of funding.

“Larger schools can more easily deal with these cuts because they have a bigger cushion resulting from a larger staff,” he said.

“In a smaller school, the cuts are more significant.”

Lis, who worked in the North Kitsap School District for seven years ending in 2009, said he had come to know the staff and administration of the Brinnon and Quilcene school districts during that time and was “impressed by their passion and commitment to education.”

Quilcene — made up of an elementary, middle and high school — has 400 students plus 15 in preschool.

Brinnon, which offers classes only through the eighth grade, has 50 students, including 13 preschoolers.

Brinnon students filter into Quilcene High at the end of eighth grade, which provides a connection between the two districts, according to Lis.

The first day of school for both districts is Sept. 6.

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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.