North Kitsap School District Superintendent Laurynn Evans has offered up her resignation, according to the North Kitsap School Board's March 14 agenda.
Evans' resignation would be effective June 30.
Evans has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 8, with Rachel Davenport serving as acting superintendent. If the board accepts her resignation, she would remain on paid leave through June 30.
The resignation follows her alleged involvement in an election sign tampering case, in which she avoided facing charges by agreeing to pre-trial diversion with the court.
Evans was allegedly caught on surveillance footage and observed by witnesses stealing signs that urged voters to oppose a school district bond worth millions of dollars. The bond, which failed during a February special election, would have paid for improvements and renovations to many of the schools in the district. Evans told police it was not her that was caught on camera and alleged that she had been set up.
After the allegations came to light, the school board placed her on paid administrative leave.
Evans faced one charge of defacing or removing a political sign. She entered a not-guilty plea.
The diversion agreement stipulates that probation services will monitor Evans for six months, she will make a restitution payment of $332 to the owner of the sign that she allegedly removed and must not break the law during the probation period.
A Kitsap County District Court judge cautioned Evans that if she violates the agreement, a judge will decide solely based on probable cause documents whether she is guilty of the charge she faces. He warned her that in that event, she would likely be convicted.
Evans’ defense lawyer said it was in the best interests of his client, the school district and parents and students of North Kitsap to put the incident behind them.
However, parents and students who showed up to the court hearing said they hoped this incident would be a catalyst for the North Kitsap School Board to move in a different direction, saying Evans’ leadership has been lacking in several different areas.
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