Published 11/23/07

Arlington superintendent announces retirement

Arlington School Superintendent Linda Byrnes announced her retirement during a recent school district Board of Directors meeting.

The decision followed Byrnes' selection as Washington state's 2008 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).

Byrnes came to the Arlington School District twelve years ago. She immediately recognized the district’s need for facility improvements and began to work tirelessly toward the goal of finding solutions.

As a result of her leadership, the district was able to pass the first capital bond measure in decades in 2000. Five years later, seven new school facilities were open for students and staff support.

In honor of her contributions to the district, the new auditorium at Arlington High School was christened the Byrnes Performing Arts Center.

Kay Duskin, president of the ASD Board of Directors, said, “Linda leveraged our $54 million bond into nearly $100 million in improvements. Her creativity in uncovering and coordinating revenue sources was phenomenal.”

Byrnes’ education career began more than 30 years ago as a classroom teacher. She has since served as assistant principal and principal in the Lakewood School District, and later spent three years with the Washington State Board of Education. Prior to coming to Arlington, she was assistant superintendent of the Highline School District.

Byrnes and her husband, former Arlington City Council member Denny Byrnes, plan to remain active in Arlington community service organizations.

The ASD Board of Directors will work with an executive recruitment and development firm, along with interested local parties, to find a new superintendent. Candidate interviews are planned for February of next year, with a final selection determined by March 1, 2008.