The Issaquah School Board extended Superintendent Ron Thiele’s term by another year to June 30, 2019 at last Wednesday’s meeting during the annual superintendent evaluation and renewal process.

Thiele’s salary also received a 2.7 percent raise to become $258,873 per year.

The board members all showed “a great sense of trust in [Thiele’s] abilities,” said L. Michelle, district communications coordinator.

All five board members were full of nothing but praise for Thiele’s efforts as superintendent this past year.

“The thing that was the most visible to us was the fact that the superintendent was out almost every evening in the community discussing growth plans and the 2016 proposed school bond,” Board President Suzanne Weaver said. “He met with PTAs, community service organizations, city councils, city chambers of commerce, staffs at every building …What we also appreciated was in addition to answering questions about the bond, he was quite open to answering pretty much any other question that came off the floor. I think the community appreciated that level of openness and accessibility.”

Michelle said that the success of the recent school bond, which passed by an overwhelming 71 percent in the April election, was evidence of how impressed the community is by Thiele’s work as superintendent. The vote was the voice of the people “expressing a lot of confidence in his abilities to lead,” she said.

The board members took turns presenting Thiele’s most significant accomplishments in his role as superintendent throughout the past year — a list that everyone remarked was very long.

The review included the implementation of full-day kindergarten, planning around the brand new Gibson Ek High School, promotion of equity through cultural competency training and the creation of the Equity Advisory Committee, the district’s commitment to sustainability, Thiele’s work with the proposal of changing school start times, the comprehensive review of district policy and the district’s high level of financial responsibility.

“You and your team have done a wonderful job of financial management …that then translates to cost savings for our taxpayers,” board member Harlan Gallinger said.

Thiele took the praise gratefully, but with no shortage of humility.

“It’s as much about the people who support me as it is me,” he said. “I have an amazing staff; they all work very, very hard. All of those things you talked about— it’s way bigger than any one person.”

He also acknowledged that there is always room for improvement and moving forward.

“We’re constantly in a review process — I recognize areas where I can enhance my effectiveness,” Thiele said. “That’s the part I focus on.”

“I couldn’t feel more fortunate than to be the superintendent here in the Issaquah School District,” Thiele finished. “I have such an affection for this place and the people here … thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue in that role.”