Seattle School Board approves interim superintendent Fred Podesta, adopts five-year progress-monitoring calendar

The Seattle School Board on the August 2025 regular meeting unanimously approved an employment agreement for Fred Podesta to serve as interim superintendent and adopted a five‑year progress‑monitoring calendar designed to align board oversight with the district’s data cycle.

The board voted to approve the interim superintendent employment agreement after a discussion about contract terms and flexibility; the motion passed unanimously on a roll-call vote. Board members also approved a progress monitoring calendar that schedules three reports per goal each year (baseline, midyear progress, deep dive) and passed the consent agenda without objection.

Why it matters: The interim superintendent agreement ensures leadership continuity as the district continues a search for a permanent superintendent. The progress monitoring calendar creates regular, scheduled opportunities — tied to assessment availability — for the board to review student outcomes and subgroup trends over the next five years.

Board action and contracting details - Interim superintendent: The board approved an employment agreement with Fred Podesta to serve as interim superintendent for the 2025–26 school year or until a permanent superintendent is hired. During the meeting staff and legal counsel said the contract includes typical termination provisions and provides flexibility so the board can make a leadership change if needed. - Progress monitoring calendar: The board adopted a calendar that organizes reporting by the district’s three goals (for example: early literacy, sixth‑grade mathematics, life‑ready measures), scheduling baseline, midyear and deep‑dive reports at different months to match assessment timing. - Consent agenda: The consent agenda, which included routine items and contract changes listed in the board packet, passed unanimously.

What board members asked and what staff said Directors asked whether the interim agreement would restrict the board’s ability to hire a different superintendent if a strong candidate emerged before the contract term ended. General Counsel Greg Narver advised the board that while the agreement includes standard notice and termination provisions, the board retains the authority to change the superintendent as long as contract terms are observed. Director Rankin asked specifically whether Podesta’s prior role would be preserved; staff confirmed provisions for transition back to an equivalent role are included in the agreement.

Acting Superintendent Podesta thanked the board for its support and said: “I appreciate everybody’s support. I am happy to do this. I'm surrounded by a great team that has wrapped around me and we're gonna make this a great school year while this interim status is in place.”

Next steps Podesta begins in the interim role on the schedule set in the contract and the progress monitoring calendar will be used to schedule three annual reporting sessions per goal; staff said the calendar is intended to be a living schedule that the board president and superintendent can adjust as assessment timing changes.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda — Moved: Vice President (motion text in minutes). Second: Director Mizrahi. Outcome: passed unanimously (7–0). Noted in the minutes as “The consent agenda has passed unanimously.” - Interim superintendent employment agreement (Fred Podesta) — Mover/second: motion recorded in meeting packet (text read into record). Outcome: passed unanimously on roll call (aye votes recorded for Directors Hersey, Ms. Rahi, Rankin, Sarju, Vice President Briggs, Clark and President Topp; tally yes 7, no 0, abstain 0). Vote recorded in meeting transcript. - Progress monitoring calendar (five‑year calendar for board monitoring) — Mover/second: motion recorded in meeting packet. Outcome: passed unanimously (aye votes recorded for directors present; tally yes 7, no 0, abstain 0). The board directed staff to align reporting with the internal data calendar and to bring monitoring reports in the planned months.

Ending: The board completed these actions as part of routine August business and moved to scheduled study sessions. The interim superintendent appointment and the new monitoring calendar set the oversight framework the board said it will use while the permanent superintendent search continues.