Jay Curtis

The Powell school board unanimously voted to retain Superintendent Jay Curtis for another two years, offering him a contract through June 2022.

Curtis was hired to lead Park County School District No. 1 in 2017. With the welcoming community and the strong relationships he’s built, Curtis said he feels like he’s been part of Powell for a lot longer than three years.

“I just feel so blessed to be in this community,” Curtis said. “And I thank the board every time they show a commitment to me in that way, and entrust me with the enormous responsibility of this position.”

He called it a challenging and complex job, “but there is no place in the world that I would rather be doing this.”

While the board unanimously approved the two-year contract with Curtis last month, compensation will be discussed at a future meeting. A final contract is expected in May, after budget discussions this spring.

Under the current contract — which continues through June 30 — the superintendent’s salary is $161,160.

While many employees received step and lane increases to their salaries last year, Curtis did not get a raise; he did receive a one-time performance stipend that was provided to all Park 1 employees who qualified.

The superintendent is not on a salary scale, but he said, “I would try to model the administrative scale.”

Administrators receive a raise every two years in the form of step and lane increases, and “I just ask for something commensurate to that,” Curtis said.

While much of his contract is expected to remain the same, Curtis said he has talked with school board chairman Greg Borcher about some of the details.

“I feel like I’m adequately compensated, but things I wouldn’t mind looking at would be, making it a three-year contract instead of two [years],” Curtis said.

He also would like to finish his doctorate, and said he may talk with the board about some provision for tuition assistance to help him complete that degree.

Continuing education is a priority district-wide, starting with the Powell school board.

Curtis said the board has “set the example from the very top” that it’s important as a learning institution to learn more and “hone our craft all the time.”

As superintendent, Curtis oversees the district’s 355 employees and seven schools, which serve more than 1,800 students. The district encompasses more than 1,400 square miles.

“I am always thankful every year that I have a job as a superintendent and that I get to do what I do and get to live where I live,” Curtis said.

Meanwhile, two neighboring school districts will be searching for new leaders. The Cody school board terminated its contract with superintendent Ray Schulte last month, while Lovell school district superintendent Rick Woodford is resigning in March, as he’s taking a position in Utah to be closer to family.