Following the retirement of Aberdeen School District Assistant Superintendent Jim Sawin in June, Assistant Principal David Glasier from Aberdeen High School will become the human resources director for the district.

Superintendent Alicia Henderson, who announced the decision on Tuesday, explained that Sawin currently directs the district’s human resources department while also acting as the assistant superintendent.

Henderson added that by making this move, it allows the district to help reduce costs as they work to restructure under the state’s new funding model, as they won’t rehire for an assistant principal or assistant superintendent. There is already one other assistant principal at the high school.

“Promoting Mr. Glasier to the District Office allows us to keep a valuable administrator on our team, while also achieving needed cost reductions in administrative staffing at the high school and at the District Office,” said Henderson.

The estimated savings, without benefits, is $128,199.

Sawin is retiring after 37 years in education — 32 of which were in Aberdeen. During his career in the district, he served as a teacher, a principal at McDermoth and Central Park Elementary, Title I director, and Learning Assistance Program director. His last day will be June 30.

“I don’t think anyone can replace Jim,” Henderson said. “I can’t speak highly enough about his contributions to our district, over the years and on a daily basis. It’s going to be difficult for all of us to adjust going forward without his knowledge and expertise.”

Glasier joined the district in 2014, when he started out teaching math at Aberdeen High School. He grew up in Los Angeles, and holds a master’s degree in math from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Glasier, who lives in Central Park with his wife, said they are pleased to have found a home back in the Northwest – and better yet, on Grays Harbor, where Cheryl’s dad was an Aberdeen Bobcat and her mom was a Hoquiam Grizzly.

Aberdeen Assistant Superintendent Jim Sawin.