Evergreen School District board approves contract making Dr. Christine Maloney permanent superintendent

The Evergreen School District 114 Board of Directors voted March 18 to approve a contract naming Dr. Christine Maloney the district’s permanent superintendent, following a period in which she served as interim.

Board members said the contract — structured as a three-year term — reflects Maloney’s work since taking the interim post in July and aims to provide leadership stability after a recent superintendent search. Several directors praised Maloney’s work on district relationships and credited her with helping the district’s recent levy effort, while at least one director said concerns about contract length and separation agreements would affect their vote.

Director Jackie (Board Director) moved to adopt the meeting agenda at the start of the session; Director Boca Negra seconded the motion and the board adopted the agenda by voice vote. Later, a board member moved to approve “the superintendent’s contract between Evergreen School District 114 and Dr. Christine Maloney.” That motion was seconded and the board approved the contract by voice vote. The contract term was described by multiple board members as a three-year agreement; the specific salary figure in the contract was not read into the record during the discussion.

Board members who supported the contract said they relied on salary comparisons to similar-size districts and on Maloney’s performance since July. One director said, “Dr. Maloney’s been exemplary, I feel, in her work the last eight months. And she’s also been busy repairing some very badly damaged relationships,” and described the contract as a signal of confidence in her leadership. Another director said the proposed salary was appropriate given Maloney’s doctorate, superintendent certification and comparable districts, and that the district’s figure was “not near the top” of comparable salaries.

At least one board director expressed reservations about the contract’s compensation and separation terms. That director noted prior separation payouts, saying two of the last three departing superintendents resulted in separation payments totaling about $570,000, and said those experiences shaped their reluctance to fully endorse the proposed package. That same director also said the district’s successful levy reduced the scale of potential budget cuts the district might have faced, a factor that influenced their eventual support.

After the vote, the board invited Dr. Maloney to the front of the room to introduce herself. Dr. Christine Maloney said, “I am so honored to be selected as your permanent superintendent,” and described her commitment to Evergreen, her family’s ties to the area and her enthusiasm for continuing in the role.

The board concluded the brief meeting with expressions of thanks to community members, staff and the candidate pool. Directors said community feedback and survey results factored into the board’s decision-making. The meeting was adjourned at 5:28 p.m.

Ending details: The board did not state the exact salary figure or publish the full contract text during the public remarks on the record; those items were referenced but not specified at the meeting.