Powers to fill vacancy on Coeur d'Alene school board

COEUR d'ALENE - School trustees in Coeur d'Alene voted 4-1 Monday to appoint Stephanie Powers to fill the zone 2 seat being vacated by longtime trustee Vern Newby.

"I think what we went for, me personally, was experience," said board chair Edie Brooks.

Before making their decision, trustees interviewed Powers and two other candidates, Angie Phillips and Patricia House.

The choice was a difficult one, said Brooks.

Powers, whose children graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School and are now in college, has a long history of volunteering for the district.

She has served on various committees - attendance zone, long range planning, technology, and the district's leadership team.

Brooks said because of her efforts, Powers is already familiar with the district's strategic planning and academic goals.

"It's hard to pass that up," Brooks said. "She's replacing someone who's been with us for a long time who has all of that under his belt."

After 21 years, Newby announced his resignation last month, and will serve through June 30.

He was elected to serve a three-year term in 2007. The passage of election consolidation legislation in 2009 added a year to the term extending it to 2011.

Powers was unavailable for comment.

She will complete the rest of Newby's term, but will have to win a May trustee election to continue in the position.

Powers is employed as director of regional support for Pita Pit.

Her community service resume includes leadership roles on the Citizens Council for the Arts, with CASA, the EXCEL Foundation, junior league and the Kroc Center capital campaign.

She has acted as a consultant for the Albertson Foundation, Kootenai Medical Center and the University of Idaho.