The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Grand Coulee Dam School District Superintendent Paul Tuner will retire this coming July, he told his school board in a letter Monday.

Turner, hired in 2016, put forth a plan a year ago to work part time for two more years alongside a full-time assistant, who could then take over. That assistant was never hired.

In his letter, Turner recounted accomplishments and obstacles. Among them, upgrading the CTE building, working with the tribe to establish a Native language/culture program, and establishing a viable alternative learning environment (ALE) program.

“We also learned how to become an online school as we worked our way through three years of COVID,” he noted. “Although during these years we dealt with multiple personnel changes, we persevered and have put together a strong leadership team.”

Turner said that after 29 years in education, he is “looking forward to spending more time with my wife, family and especially the grandkids.”