Superintendent's contract extended to 2013

Photo by Elaine Smith

PART OF MCCAMMON’S KEY TO SUCCESS IS THAT HE GETS OUT AND MINGLES WITH TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS IN ALL FIFE SCHOOLS. Earlier this year, he helped prepare lunch for hungry students.

Fife School Board has extended Superintendent Dr. Steve McCammon’s contract for three more years, the maximum allowed. Citing the achievement of numerous important goals this past year set by both McCammon and the board, Board President Bruce Burnside and Vice President Bob Scheidt agree that retaining McCammon will keep Fife Schools running strong into the year 2013.

“We are really lucky to have a superintendent of his quality in our district,” Scheidt said. A 38-year veteran of Fife School District, Scheidt said he has encountered his share of superintendents in various districts over the years and knows Fife has a gem in McCammon. “Very good superintendents are hard to find, and he understands that good school districts are hard to find, too. He understands he’s in a good place.”

“This is probably one of the most successful years Fife has ever had given all the challenges,” Burnside said. “It’s been the best I’ve seen.”

McCammon said this past year has been one of the more difficult yet most successful and rewarding years he has had in his nine years as Fife superintendent and his overall 14 years as a district leader. Passage this year of the Educational Programs and Operations Levy and a Technology Levy is among the district’s accomplishments he is most proud of having led. “We passed two key levy initiatives in the same year during a tough economy, and they were passed at record levels,” he said.

Another goal achieved was the success-

ful bargaining agreement with Fife Edu-cation Association (FEA) this past May in which a new three-year contract was approved in record time. McCammon chalked this up to the solid culture of trust and collaboration between the district and FEA, which took a good number of years to build. “The relationship that’s been developed between the teachers union and the district…is like a marriage,” Burnside said. “You have to have trust and respect and years behind you of seeing those things work together to set the table for the next contract. The relationship between the union and (McCammon) is good and it proved out.”

“We were also able, by managing our budgets well, to hire back all of the teachers we had to lay off in May,” McCammon noted. And it was due to such budgetary concerns that McCammon asked for no increase in salary for the fifth consecutive year. He also qualified for a performance pay bonus, but turned it down as well. “I informed the board that I would prefer to decline the bonus due to the struggling economy and our recent budget cuts. It is the thing to do as the district leader.”

Giving credit to everyone in the district – teachers, staff and administrators – is important, McCammon said, for it is their teamwork that led to more than 98 percent of students in Fife Schools meeting the standards for graduation this year as set by the state of Washington.

“As the leader, I know that my role is critical in achieving these major successes, but good leaders realize that nothing is accomplished without a great team at all levels and the key support of a great school board.”

“I am confident that with our decade-long focus on engagement and the design of work geared at the specific needs of students, that no district is better prepared with board leadership, administrative focus, quality educators and the gifted support staff necessary to continue to succeed in providing a great education to the young people in our supportive community.”

In looking ahead to the coming three years, Burnside expressed confidence and excitement in the district’s plan to keep doing what it does best: producing work that engages students. “Everybody’s holding hands walking into the future year – to plant seeds and look for a good harvest. All the groundwork has been set for that to happen.”

Commenting rules