Following the sudden and unexpected resignation of Superintendent Steve Quick, the Harney County School District No. 3 (HCSD No. 3) Board of Directors was forced to find a temporary superintendent in a matter of days.

Quick accepted a superintendent position in Washington. The job offer came well after the normal time frame for administrative moves. Although Quick had planned to eventually return to his “home area,” he did not intend to make the move so quickly. Quick’s final day at HCSD No. 3 was Friday, Aug. 8.

After receiving Quick’s letter of resignation, the school board immediately began efforts to secure a temporary replacement.

“We contacted the Oregon School Board Association (OSBA) for guidance,” board member Randy Fulton said. “The OSBA suggested we appoint a temporary superintendent for a month or two and begin a search for an interim superintendent to get us through the 2022-2023 school year. The ‘normal’ superintendent-recruitment process begins in January of each year.”

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 9, the HCSD No. 3 Board voted unanimously to appoint Robert Medley to the position of temporary superintendent.

Medley will serve the district in a dual role of Burns High School principal and HCSD No. 3 superintendent between Aug. 10 and Oct. 11, 2022. During this time, the board will search for qualified candidates who are interested in applying for the interim superintendent position, which will run from Oct. 11, 2022 until June 30, 2023.

The board will contact consultants, the OSBA, and the Coalition of Oregon School Board Administrators in early December to initiate a thorough search for a full-time superintendent, who will begin July 1, 2023.