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Silver Falls board adopts superintendent evaluation, votes to make Kim Kellison permanent effective July 1
Summary
After a year as interim superintendent, Kim Kellison received the board's highest evaluation ratings and a unanimous commitment to permanent hire; the board authorized two members to negotiate a permanent contract to take effect July 1, 2025.
The Silver Falls School District Board of Directors on March 2025 adopted the annual performance evaluation of Interim Superintendent Kim Kellison and voted to make her the district's permanent superintendent effective July 1, 2025.
Board members said the vote reflects an effort to stabilize district leadership after a year of turnover and budget challenges. The board cited Kellison's fiscal management, organizational leadership and community communication as priorities in the evaluation process.
The board used the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA)/COSA evaluation template and focused extra weight on fiscal management, effective organizational management, and communications and community engagement. Derek (board member) summarized the board's view: the board rated Kellison “accomplished” on the prioritized standards and “effective” on several leadership standards. In public remarks, multiple board members praised Kellison’s work to steady the district, with one saying she “has exceeded all that I thought I saw during the interview process.”
The board also authorized a small negotiating team to draft a permanent employment contract with Kellison. A motion to authorize Board members Derek and Phil Wiesner to negotiate a permanent contract passed; the contract will be returned to the full board for ratification at a public meeting before the July 1 effective date.
Kellison, who has served as interim superintendent since mid-2024 and has been central to the district's budget and policy work this year, thanked the board. Board discussion emphasized continuity: members said that permanency would help the district’s recovery and improve staff and community confidence.
Votes at a glance - Adoption of superintendent evaluation and continuation of employment: Motion approved. The board adopted the evaluation and continued Kellison’s employment under her current contract pending the permanent contract process. (Motion recorded in meeting minutes; outcome: approved.) - Resolution to make Kim Kellison permanent, effective 07/01/2025: Motion approved. (Outcome: approved.) - Authorization for negotiation of permanent contract: Motion approved to authorize Derek and Phil Wiesner to negotiate a permanent contract with Kellison for ratification by the board prior to 07/01/2025. (Outcome: approved.)
What the board said: members described Kellison’s first months as a period of triage and stabilization and said the evaluation results—high ratings in fiscal and organizational areas—supported moving to a permanent appointment. The board asked the negotiation team to return with comparators and recommended contract language for public debate and ratification.
The board recorded the evaluation summary in public session and will consider the negotiated contract in a later public meeting before the July 1 effective date.
Ending: The board’s actions change Kellison’s official status from interim to permanent with a scheduled effective date of July 1, 2025; specifics of salary and contract length will be set by the negotiating team and returned to the full board for approval.
