Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Interim Superintendent topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hires PJ Ford Slack as interim superintendent starting July 1
Summary
The board voted unanimously to approve an employment contract with PJ (P.J.) Ford Slack, PhD, as interim superintendent for FY2025–26, beginning July 1, 2025. The hire is temporary while the board delays a permanent search until later this year.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Board of Education approved an employment contract on June 25 to hire PJ (P.J.) Ford Slack, PhD, as interim superintendent for the 2025–26 school year, with a contract commencement date of July 1, 2025.
The vote was unanimous, 7–0. Board members said they selected Ford Slack after the district decided to pause a previously underway permanent-search process and accept recommendations from the Alaska School Boards Association (AESA) and related recruitment contacts. Board discussion described Ford Slack’s experience in Alaska dating to the 1990s, including K–12 leadership roles, a tenure as a high‑school principal and prior service inside the state Department of Education, plus experience as an interim and emergency superintendent.
Board expectations and first priorities
Board members said they want the interim superintendent to support continuity as the district transitions leadership for the school year, to work on stabilizing operations and to assist the board with the eventual search for a permanent superintendent. The board directed that the interim should prioritize budget oversight, communication with staff and community, and easing the transition between outgoing superintendent Michael Robbins and a successor.
What the contract says (as recorded in the meeting)
The motion approved an employment contract for FY2025–26 that commences July 1, 2025; the board and the district business manager will complete the paperwork through standard district contract channels. The meeting record identifies Ford Slack’s immediate onboarding plans: visits to schools during late June and a planned July arrival with housing arranged for early July.
Why it matters
An interim superintendent will lead district operations as the board completes budget planning for FY2026 and addresses ongoing policy and staffing issues. Board members said they expect the interim to help stabilize staffing and to support community engagement during the transition.
Ending
The board said it plans to restart the permanent superintendent search later in the year (around the holidays) and expects Ford Slack to assist with transition-related work and, where requested, with the recruitment process.
