SEQUIM — For the third straight week, directors of the Sequim School District had a difficult decision to make as they held a special meeting Thursday night.

After finalizing contract offers — and contract non-renewals — to certificated staff members, and making a point of withdrawing a list of suggested program cuts they endorsed prior to the passage of a May 18 maintenance and operations levy request, the board was thrown a curve late last month by the resignation of Sequim High School Assistant Principal Leon Werner.

The board agreed Thursday night to replace Werner with Mark Willis, the only in-district administrative candidate who expressed interest in the job.

Willis held that position for three years before taking on the role of principal at Sequim Middle School, where he has been for the past two years.

Willis’ contract as assistant principal will begin July 1.

Recruiting difficulties

School Board members are faced with recruiting a middle school principal at a time of year when some of the best candidates have already made commitments to other districts, Schools Superintendent Garn Christensen said.

While the district would consider an in-district transfer, its policy regarding the recruitment of school principals is to launch nationwide searches to find the most qualified individuals.