JOYCE — Crescent School Superintendent Doug Kubalek died Wednesday afternoon in a Seattle hospital after having suffered a stroke on Aug. 5.
Kubalek, 59, was removed from life-support at Virginia Mason Hospital over the past weekend after his family saw no change in his condition over the last week and a half, said Stewart Smith, a close friend of the family.
Kubalek’s death came on the heels of the Crescent School Board’s decision Tuesday night to hire retired Port Angeles School District administrator Tom Anderson as the district’s interim superintendent.
Anderson will act as both the district’s superintendent and school principal, as Kubalek did.
Anderson, who worked as a principal and assistant superintendent in Port Angeles for 33 years, said he knows the Crescent staff and school board fairly well.
“At first we didn’t know how serious Doug’s stroke was going to be, and I was just glad to step in and help some fellow friends,” Anderson said.
Specifics of Anderson’s contract haven’t been worked out, but he said he is willing to stay on as long as the district needs him.
School Board President Tracey Grover said the district will wait on finding a replacement.
“We’re going to respect the family and their wishes,” Grover said.
Anderson said grief counseling is being offered to district staff, and will be available to students when they return to school on Sept. 6.
