Wenatchee school principal gets new contract, refuses salary increase

Wenatchee School District Principal Kory Kalahar is now on a two-year contract after the school board approved new terms that eliminate the interim appointment and extend his term by one year.

Kalahar was hired as interim superintendent in July 2023 for two years. He is now under contract until June 30, 2026

School board President Julie Norton says it’s important for the district to have a permanent superintendent.

“I think the elimination of the interim title is appropriate because of the accomplishments you’ve had this year,” Norton said. “But also because of the future of the district.”

The board finalized his contract last week after voting unanimously to extend his contract earlier in June.

School board member Maria Iñiguez says the new contract reflects the stability and trust needed in the district.

“By removing the interim and extending it for another year, we are not only providing stability and continuity, but also beginning to rebuild that trust factor that we haven’t had for a few years,” Iñiguez said. “So I’m looking forward to getting to work.”

Notably, Kalahar turned down a cost-of-living pay increase in his new contract, which takes effect Monday. Kalahar was supposed to get an implicit salary increase from the Price Deflator (IPD), but has rejected the increase.

His annual salary remains $220,233, with $600 per month for travel expenses.

The district also took out a $500,000 life insurance policy on Kalahar at the time he was hired, with Kalahar naming the policy’s beneficiaries.

The contract also provides $3,000 to cover costs incurred by Kalahar to attend relevant professional meetings at the local, state, and national levels.

Kalahar became the district’s third one-year superintendent in 2023, replacing interim Superintendent Bill Eagle, who agreed to a one-year contract the year before. Eagle filled the role after Superintendent Paul Gordon accepted a superintendent position outside Chicago.

It was Kalahar that inherited a budget deficit that began in 2022, when a misstep occurred during the transition between Gordon and Eagle. Staff failed to identify a reduction in state and federal funding, and the district later realized a $9 million budget error had been made, leaving the district in a financial hole.

Kalahar has been at the helm as the district has had to make major budget cuts, including this year’s closure of Columbia Elementary School.

He has also overseen the process to build a girls softball field. The field is being built to bring the district into compliance with federal law after it was cited for a violation of Title IX, which requires equal treatment for male and female athletes.

Kalahar worked for the Wenatchee School District for 25 years and became principal after serving as assistant principal of Learning & Teaching. Previously he was director and deputy director.