2 Kennewick school administrators are leaving. They hired one person to do both jobs

The Kennewick School District announced this week the hiring of a new assistant superintendent of operations to lead its human resources and business offices.

Thomas Brillhart starts his new job on July 1 and will earn an annual salary of nearly $162,000.

He currently serves in a similar position for a medium-sized school district in the Louisville, Ken., suburbs.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Brillhart to KSD. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we are fortunate to have him join our team,” Kennewick Superintendent Traci Pierce said in a statement.

Brillhart has 19 years of experience working in public education, serving 15 of those in administrative roles. He began his career as a social studies teacher and coach, and worked as an elementary principal before becoming a district-level administrator.

He currently works as the assistant superintendent of operations for New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools, where he manages student data and assessments, technology, groundskeeping, transportation, food programs, strategic planning and other responsibilities.

The Hoosier will be performing similar tasks here in Kennewick, leading the district’s work in food programs, transportation, facilities and capital projects, in addition to HR and business.

Kennewick is a slightly larger school district with 19,000 students compared to New Albany-Floyd County, with 12,000 enrolled.

Brillhart will fill the shoes of two Kennewick School District administrators leaving this school year. Both played integral roles in the district’s growth in recent decades.

Doug Christensen, the former associate superintendent of human resources, left in December for a new job with Hanford Mission Integrated Solutions. He started with the district in 1996.

Vic Roberts, executive director of business operations, plans to retire this summer after 18 years with Kennewick.

Pierce also will leave soon. She plans to retire in June 2025.

Staff and the school board had planned to hire a deputy-successor superintendent this summer to ease the transition and allow a candidate to step into the role after Pierce retires, but the district pivoted this spring to focus on hiring Brillhart to fulfill the other cabinet positions.

The school board says it expects to pick back up on hiring Pierce’s successor next school year.