Battle Ground board appoints Shelly Whitten as superintendent after contested public comment
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Summary
The Battle Ground School District board voted 3–2 to appoint Deputy Superintendent Shelly Whitten as superintendent effective July 1, 2025, after public commenters urged a wider, transparent search and some board members called for an interim or community input.
The Battle Ground School District board of directors voted 3–2 on Feb. 24 to appoint Shelly Whitten as superintendent, effective July 1, 2025.
The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and board discussion about whether to conduct a national or local search, appoint an interim, or promote from inside. The decision comes as the district prepares a rerun of a replacement levy and faces potential staffing and program cuts if voters do not approve new funding.
Board President Mary Snedley cast one of three yes votes; Directors Ted Champine and Jackie Maddox joined her. Directors Debbie Johnson and Terry Tate voted no. The motion approved a simplified, amended appointment: "the board of directors approve appointing Shelly Whitten as superintendent of Battle Ground Public Schools effective 07/01/2025," the final motion read in open session. The board recorded the roll-call votes: Snedley — yes; Johnson — no; Champine — yes; Tate — no; Maddox — yes. The motion carried 3–2.
Public commenters asked the board to pause and run an exhaustive, transparent search. Parent Wendy Rush said she was "surprised" to see the appointment on the agenda and urged a "transparent and thorough process" with community input. Several other speakers — including Dawn Seaver, Tyler Long and Jennifer Heine Withey — recommended either naming an interim superintendent and letting the newly elected board later decide the permanent hire, or using a recruitment firm and public candidate forums.
Board members described competing priorities. Several directors said they valued continuity and internal candidates who already understand the district; others said an outside search could bring fresh perspectives and help rebuild public trust after the recent levy defeat. Director Terry Tate initially moved to appoint Whitten as interim superintendent and later offered a motion that included a schedule for a future search; another director amended the motion to the simpler appointment that was adopted.
Human resources director Michelle (last name on file with the district) told the board that terms and contract length are negotiated after an appointment and that contract details are handled in executive session before being approved in public session. The board did not finalize contract terms on Feb. 24.
Board members and several public speakers tied the hiring decision to the district's broader need to restore trust with voters ahead of the levy re-run scheduled for April 22. Several commenters asked for public surveys, candidate forums and the opportunity for the incoming board (three seats are up in November) to participate in any permanent-hire decision.
The board’s action on Feb. 24 appointed Whitten to begin July 1; contract terms and any role in a subsequent superintendent search were left to later negotiation and possible future board action.
