When Sequim’s schools are back in session later this month, they’ll be without one of their key administrators.

Brian Lewis, the school district’s Director of Finance and Operations for the past nine years, is leaving his position to take a position with the Arlington School District.

Lewis’ new position in Arlington is Executive Director of Operations. Lewis said his role will include overseeing food service, transportation, building maintenance and security issues for the 5,600-plus student school district.

“It was an opportunity for some growth,” Lewis said. “If I’m going to go somewhere, it better be for a good opportunity.”

Lewis said Arlington is looking to pass a transportation vehicle levy, something he helped Sequim’s district earn voter approval of in 2013.

Like Sequim, Arlington’s schools have school constriction needs and are seeing growth in enrollment, Lewis said. “They have a similar set of issues, just on a bigger scale,” Lewis said.

Sequim schools superintendent Gary Neal lauded Lewis for not only his business acumen and accuracy but his willingness to help out in other departments and taking a role in explaining projects like school construction bond proposals to the community.

“We have to wear several hats with these positions,” Neal said. Like others in the school district, Neal said Lewis had the “philosophy and practice of helping out.”

“He truly wanted to help out so the kids had the best opportunities,” Neal said of Lewis. “I was so lucky (that) I had a business person who understood that piece.”

Brian Kuh, president of Citizens for Sequim Schools, the grassroots community group that among other things helps support Sequim school levy and bond proposals, said Lewis’ “willingness to engage” was a key asset to the community.

“(Brian) made our district a fiscally responsible district,” Sheena Younger, a Sequim parent and member of Citizens for Sequim Schools, said at Monday night’s board meeting. “We’re going to miss him.”

Neal said the district will take some time hiring its next business manager, with other staffers and possibly some contracted work from Educational Service District 114 filling in until that hire is made.

“I’m not in a hurry — it’s a key position,” Neal said. “We have some big items at the end of each month (but) … it’s very doable and we have a good business office staff.”

Lewis will work through Aug. 31 and see the first day of school in Sequim, then starts his position with Arlington in time for that district’s first day, set for Sept. 7.

“I’ll miss all the friends I’ve made here, the community,” Lewis said, and added he won’t miss dealing with the stresses brought about by what are called “unfunded mandates” — requirements passed on by state officials without funding to assist in achieving those new standards.

Budget approved

Sequim School Board members approved a recommended $31 million budget for the 2016-2017 school year.

Next year’s operating budget sees a jump in spending thanks to a state legislator-approved 1.8 percent increase in cost-of-living pay for teachers.

The district is adding the equivalent of 4.5 full-time certified staffers and another 1.5 in staffing for classified staff, Lewis said.

Enrollment at Sequim schools is projected at about 2,808 students, up from 2,739 from last year’s school year average.

Lewis said the district expects Sequim schools to peak at about 2,900 students in 2018-2019 before dropping off slightly.

Enrollment growth is primarily coming in at the elementary grade levels, Lewis said.

Other board action

In other school board action, directors agreed to:

• accept a letter of resignation from Kimberly Minard, Sequim Options School English Language Arts teacher

• accept a letter of resignation from Debi Munro, Helen Haller Elementary paraeducator

• offer a middle school social studies teaching position to Marcus Hollan

• offer a high school social studies teaching position to Michael Krogman, and

• offer a Learning Assistance Program paraeducator position to Katie Salmon-Newton.