Education

José Banda chosen as new Seattle Schools chief

SEATTLE — The Seattle School Board has offered the job of superintendent to José Banda, the current Superintendent of the Anaheim City School District.

The Board met in closed session Sunday night and directed Board President Michel DeBell to contact Banda.

“I spoke with Mr. Banda on Sunday night and told him the Board is very interested in having him as our next leader of Seattle Public Schools. Mr. Banda expressed his willingness to accept the position if offered,” DeBell said, according to a news release. “We believe he is a strong fit for Seattle.”

The news release says the full board is expected to officially name Mr. Banda as their choice during Wednesday’s School Board meeting (May 2), and then vote on the contract on May 16. If approved, the new Superintendent would start after July 1.

He would replace Maria Goodloe-Johnson, who was ousted last year in a financial scandal.

Two other superintendents who interviewed withdrew: Steven Enoch of San Ramon Valley, near San Francisco, and Sandra Husk of Salem-Keizer, Ore.

Banda has been superintendent the past four years at the Anaheim district, which has 20,000 students.

The Seattle district is the largest in Washington with more than 47,000 students