Roy Getchell answer community questions during a meet and greet at the Haines School Library. (Berett Wilber)
The Haines School Board was ready to offer Roy Getchell a job as their new school superintendent.
The only problem? No one could find him.
The school board’s search for a new superintendent was finished — almost. As the board discussed offering him a job in a closed-door session, candidate Roy Getchell went on a quick ride to the Post Office with a district employee.
Five minutes later, the Board finished their conversation, and Sarah Swinton made a motion.
“I’d like to make a motion that we hire Roy Getchell as our new school superintendent,” she said.
The district secretary called the role.
“Chapell?” “Yes.”
“Schwartz?” “Yes.”
“Swinton?” “Yes.”
“Gross?” “Yes.”
“Wald?” “Yes.”
“Palmieri?” “Absolutely.”
Hoping to ask if he’d accept the job, they found their search for a superintendent had gained a literal dimension. They called Getchell, the district employee who was with him, and even the Post Office. No luck.
But after five years of new and interim superintendents, and a six-month search process, the Haines Board was prepared to wait a little longer for the right candidate.
Roy Getchell was offered a job as Haines’ new school superintendent. (Berett Wilber).
They believe they’ve found it in Roy Getchell.
Getchell currently works as an Elementary school principal in Avon, Colorado. He has a P.h.D. in Educational Administration and Policy Studies, and has worked as teacher, counselor, principal, and campus director in Missouri, Colorado, and overseas. He is forty-nine, married, and has two daughters who would enter Haines’ school in the fall.
The Haines School Board used a new process this year to find him: instead of relying on the statewide superintendent search run by the Alaska Association of School Boards, they went in-house. They drew up goals, hired local consultants to vet candidates, conducted interviews, and tried to make sure the process was as open to the public as possible.
Interim superintendent Rich Carlson felt that today, that was a success.
“I’d just like to say thank you everybody, and remind you that your first yearly goal was to have an open transparent superintendent search process and hiring a good superintendent,” he said. “So, congratulations.”
“And thank you Rich, for leading us there,” said Board President Anne Marie Palmieri.
The board also originally set goals that included finding a candidate with previous superintendent experience. Palmieri says that although Getchell has never filled that role, his work as a campus director in the United Arab Emirates felt close enough.
“We were looking for experience with a budget. That’s a major importance to us, being in a small school with declining enrollment, where all the pennies count,” she said. “He does have budgeting experience, so we felt like that was covered.”
They also wanted someone who’d ideally worked in Alaska before.
“[Someone with] a network of support, they understand how things work in Alaska, and they have an understanding of the political and the state budgetary requirements,” she said. “Roy doesn’t have that, but we believe that he can pick that up. He has the desire and he has the aptitude.”
Getchell spent two days in Haines, meeting with staff, the student council, and community members. The board saved their final interview for last, which took nearly two hours.
They unanimously voted to offer Getchell a contract. They describe him as smart, excited, enthusiastic, and likable. Board member Sara Chapell summed up her feelings as hopeful.
“I think Roy is going to be a really great fit for Haines,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
The next step? Waiting for Getchell to get back to the school, so they could let him know he’d be offered a job. After about twenty minutes, Getchell arrived in the library where a roomful of hugs, handshakes, and a tray of brownies was waiting.
“I was getting another tour!” Getchell said, laughing. “I went to the Post Office.”
“I called the post office, and you weren’t there!” the District Secretary said.
“When we finally went in they ran up and said, ‘You better get him back!’” Getchell said.
From there, it was quick work for Palmieri make the offer official.
“Roy, we would like to offer you a position as superintendent in the Haines Borough School district.”
“Thank you,” Getchell said. “I will absolutely accept that offer.”
There’s still plenty to be decided, including a transition guide, and a new contract. But if all goes according to plan, Getchell will start once his current job is finished in mid-June. He said he’s excited, plans to work hard, and be in Haines for a long time.
Lucky Haines! Eagle County School District will miss this rock star!
Best wishes and good luck to the new superintendent, but as you already know, don’t get too comfortable. Living in a small rural SE Alaska town can be challenging on
many fronts, especially for ones unfamiliar with the state.
Now that the hiring process is over we are on the countdown to the firing process. Lets see if the school board can tolerate their hiring decision for the duration of the contract. Lets pay the new superintendent all of the moving and living expenses up front, so that when he quits after one year he already has the moving and living expenses in his bank account. Lets get ready for the firing and bonus payout portion of this employment experience. This is basically a no show job, with almost nothing to do in a district with less than 300 students and falling. The Anchorage School District has over 50,000 students and one superintendent. We have under 300 do the math. School districts should be consolidated. Ridiculous amount of administrative overhead in school systems in general, and in Haines in particular.