By Maureen Flanagan Battistella – URI Contributing Writer
Nearly 100 people crowded into the Eagle Point High School’s large meeting room on the evening of Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 to hear from three candidates vying for the Eagle Point School District superintendency. The Eagle Point School District board organized a public forum to introduce James Helmen, Heather Marinucci and Josh Middleton to the community and give those attending an opportunity to ask questions. The three candidates were seated at a long table on a low stage, each with a microphone. McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C consultant Heidi Sipe, who is also Superintendent of the Umatilla School District, conducted the meeting.
In the audience were parents, teachers, staff and students as well as members of the community who submitted written questions for the candidates in advance of the public forum. After a brief welcome by EPSD Board Chair, Emily McIntire, each candidate introduced themselves and in two minutes described their background and the reasons they had applied for the position.
Over the course of an hour, Sipe posed 12 audience questions to the superintendent candidates, allowing one to one and one-half minutes for each response. Questions ranged from how to recruit and retain teachers, views on career and technical education, leadership and management styles, the role of community business partners, values and priorities and more. While each candidate couched their response differently, all responses were student-centered and reflected the candidates unique experience and values.
Helmen has served as superintendent at the Vernonia, Ore. school district since 2022 and previously held administrative positions in the Clatskanie School District. Both school districts have fewer than 700 students according to the Oregon Department of Education’s At-A-Glance website. Helmen’s K-12 career has spanned 22 years in administration, teaching and coaching. His comments were sometimes illustrated with sports metaphors and the importance of a common culture and respect drawing on Helmen’s coaching background and approach.
Marinucci currently serves as Eagle Point High School Principal and has been with the Eagle Point School District in several teaching and administrative capacities since she was first hired in 2007. There are 956 students enrolled in the Eagle Point High School and 3,970 students in the Eagle Point School System according to the Oregon Department of Education. Marinucci’s responses to questions posed by the audience were specific and detailed showing her background and experience with the Eagle Point School District, its programs and partners, students and teachers and finances.
Middleton is Director of Human Resources, Facilities, and Transportation at the J.O. Combs Unified School District, San Tan Valley, Ariz., a position he has held since 2024. Middleton has served as superintendent in a number of Idaho, Montana and Washington State school systems before moving to Arizona. School sizes have ranged from 401 students to over 3,000 according to Niche.com, a company that profiles schools and school systems. Middleton’s comments were polished and confirmed his broad experience in a variety of school systems.
It was a long and grueling day for the three candidates as well as the EPSD9 Board. Sipe noted that candidates had been on their feet, in meetings and answering questions for the last 12 hours with only 20 minutes to grab something to eat.
“I have been so impressed with this entire search process, with the community and their ability to ask tough questions and still respect each other,” Sipe noted. “It’s been a very competitive search and we’ve had a tremendous number of applicants who specifically applied only for this role and that’s exciting to see. I’m very excited about the finalists and I know the board will make a great choice.”
The EPSD9 board convened two Executive Sessions on February 6, 2026 and has not as yet said when they will announce a hiring decision.
