Wapato superintendent considered for Walla Walla job

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Wapato’s school superintendent is under consideration for the same post in Walla Walla, officials there announced Tuesday night.

Becky Imler, who was hired at Wapato in 2007, is one of six semifinalists to become superintendent of Walla Walla Public Schools, according to a news release from the school district.

Imler came to Wapato after 11 years as director of special services at Central Valley School District in Spokane Valley.

Last fall, Wapato parents upset over the termination of dual-language classes lobbied the school board to remove Imler.

Union officials said teachers voted 114-39, with nearly 50 abstaining in fear of their jobs, that they had no confidence in her. Besides the ending of the dual-language program, they cited concerns about a lack of planning time and the afternoon recess schedule.

Wapato’s school board president said the panel remained confident in Imler, believing that the district was headed in the right direction under her leadership.

The other five candidates for the Walla Walla job are also from Washington.

The school board will hold one-hour introduction sessions with each candidate on Saturday, then select three finalists for further consideration, according to  the news release.

— Mark Morey