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Battle Ground board appoints Shelly Whitten as superintendent after contested public comment
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…
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