Marysville School Districts switches superintendents amid financial woes

(The Center Square) – The Marysville School District has a new superintendent.

In a special Thursday meeting of the Marysville School District Board of Directors, members voted to cut ties with Superintendent Dr. Zachary Robbins.

As previously reported by The Center Square, Robbins had overseen the district during a tumultuous time when its financial woes caught the attention of the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including binding conditions for the district that reached the point of threatened dissolution.

“We called this special meeting to consider two items,” said school board President Connor Krebbs at the beginning of Thursday’s special meeting.

“First is a separation between the board and Superintendent Robbins,” she said, an announcement that drew applause and cheering from the crowd.

“If that’s approved, we will then consider the appointment of Dr. David Burgess for the remainder of the school year,” Krebbs continued.

A few minutes later, the board voted unanimously to sever ties with Robbins.

In September, OSPI announced the appointment of a special administrator, Dr. Arthur Jarvis, to the Marysville School District, as part of the state’s enhanced financial monitoring of the district.

The board then unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. David Burgess, the interim human resources director, as superintendent for the remainder of the school year, again, drawing cheers and applause from those in attendance.

“I’ve lived here in Marysville and now Tulalip for 19 years,” Burgess said. “I’m very committed to the public education of our children, or I wouldn’t be here tonight.”

In a statement Thursday night, the district said it had reached an “amicable severance agreement” with Robbins, who was hired in February 2022.

Robbins's contract extension with the district had him signed on through 2027.

At the time of publication, the district has not released details of the severance agreement or its cost.

Jalleh Hooman with the Marysville Community Coalition sent The Center Square a message via Facebook that read,“The Marysville Community Coalition is hopeful that with the recent separation of Robbins, the School Board and District leadership can begin to work with the community and other stakeholders to stabilize this district. The road to recovering the trust of this community is paramount to a successful long-term outcome. This community has proven its dedication to improving our district by demanding necessary change, and we welcome and look forward to improved interactions with the newly appointed Dr. Jarvis and Dr. Burgess.”

A Friday news release from the district read, in part, “Through no fault of either party, both the School Board and Dr. Robbins believe that it is in the best interests of the District and the Superintendent to move forward with a change in leadership. The Board and Dr. Robbins recognize that the District faces significant challenges, including financial problems that pre-date Dr. Robbins’s tenure.”