Swisher considered for Bend Post

The Bend/LaPine School District is interviewing Steve Swisher, and four other applicants, to be their next superintendent of schools.

Swisher has been Sisters Schools superintendent since 1996.

Dennis Ray, consultant to the Bend School Board, notified Swisher on Thursday, February 24, 2000 that he was among five finalists.

Swisher, an educator for 28 years and administrator since 1980, said he did not go looking for the Bend/LaPine post.

"I was asked and encouraged to allow my name to be considered," Swisher said on February 24. He said he responded to the initial contact by explaining he was not looking for a job, that he lived and worked in a wonderful community.

"The way the situation was portrayed in The Bulletin (the newspaper in Bend) led people to believe I was pounding on their door, instead of the other way around," Swisher said.

Swisher had been worried that when news that he was a candidate was announced, his relationship with the Sisters community would change.

"Well, in some ways it has. There are the phone calls, the email, people say 'we understand why you would, but sure hope you don't.' "

The Bend superintendent will make between $110,000 to $120,000 per year. Swisher said his salary in Sisters is $84,000. Several staff members and community members have said Sisters should try to erase or reduce the difference.

"I'd be lying if I said that the money wasn't a factor" Swisher said. "But if people tried to make up the difference, that would be very difficult for me. The Sisters community has done everything it can (to make his salary competitive). I would be holding the community hostage, and I don't think that is right. It would be very hard for me to accept."

The money is not the only thing attractive about the Bend offer, Swisher said.

"I guess you could say I am a builder, a competitor and like a new challenge. I wouldn't be thinking about it if it was purely about money..."

The Bend district has close to 13,000 students, Sisters has about 1,200, Swisher said.

"There is still a distinct possibility that even if I am their final choice, I may stay here, if not too much damage has been done. It is certainly something I would have to discuss with my family, but there are so many nice things here, there is unfinished business, there is the great community support."

The "unfinished business" includes development of curriculum, student assessments, Certificates of Advanced Mastery, the arts and communication and industrial tech programs, and the master facilities plan.

"At the same time, these are things that will probably get finished if I am here or not," Swisher said.

This has been a difficult week for the superintendent.

"When people come up to me on the street and I have to look them in the eye, I can't say there is no possibility (he won't change jobs)," Swisher said.

"But the thing to remember is that the same people will be teaching the classes. We shouldn't let this process disrupt the important business of the district."

A final decision is expected by the first of April.