Shoreline selects new schools chief

The Shoreline School Board on Monday night unanimously selected Sue Walker, a longtime teacher and administrator, to replace embattled Superintendent James Welsh.

Details of the board's settlement with Welsh were unavailable, district spokeswoman Marjorie Ledell said. Welsh was placed on leave in April because of an accounting snafu that left the district several million dollars in the red and may result in the layoff of teachers.

Walker was appointed as interim chief student officer seven years ago. Before that, she was an assistant principal at Shorewood High School, and a teacher at Einstein Middle School, Shorewood and the now-closed Shoreline High School.

Walker holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, a master's from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass., and an administrative credential from Seattle Pacific University.

Welsh was hired five years ago to replace Marlene Holayter because board members were convinced he could help Shoreline out of its fiscal crisis. He came to the district from Washoe County in Nevada, where he was deputy superintendent.

This isn't the first time the district has cut short a superintendent's contract.

In 1997, Shoreline Superintendent MAK Mitchell was paid 14 months' salary after her resignation. She had received two no-confidence votes by teachers and support personnel.

Three years later, Holayter received a $43,000 severance, or four months of her salary, when she retired with one year left on her contract. The teachers union had expressed a lack of support for Holayter.

Information previously reported in The Seattle Times is included in this report.