New superintendent at Hood Canal schools

The Hood Canal School District opens its doors Sept. 7 to about 335 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, and with a new superintendent in Jose-de-Jesus Melendez.

Melendez - who grew up in a Mexican village of about 50 people in the state of Zacatecaz - replaces Nikki Grubbs, who was hired as assistant superintendent in the North Thurston School District. He has been a teacher, principal, program director and superintendent in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

"My experience preparing for this school year as a superintendent has been a very busy one," he wrote in an emai...