One door closes...

When family calls, you don't hang up.

And when opportunity knocks, you'd better answer.

Either one of those is reason to go, but combined, the elements form an irresistible force for Hazel Bauman, Coeur d'Alene School District's superintendent for the past five years and a district employee for the past three decades. Bauman is headed to a similar job in western Washington, where she and husband David Rawls will be closer to family.

While Bauman's contract is reportedly for just one year, she has indicated interest in staying longer before eventually coming back Coeur d'Alene's way, and common sense suggests the board there would not make this hire if it lacked confidence in Bauman's ability to replicate what she's done here.

Could the timing be worse for Coeur d'Alene's 10,000 school children? The district is in the midst of negotiating its contract with the teachers' union and the sides appear far apart. In a week and a half, a school board election has the potential to replace a majority of the current board, so a philosophical and pragmatic sea change in the district's direction is possible.

But the timing most certainly could be worse. Bauman's legacy includes passage of a $32.7 million bond last August and a $27 million levy this spring, thanks to strong support from the community's taxpayers. The board has fiscal challenges to deal with, but nothing like what it would have faced if its superintendent had skipped town before these critically needed revenue sources were secured.

While board members begin to plan next steps, two rumors should be put to rest right now.

Wendell Wardell, the district's rock-solid chief operating officer, confirmed to The Press on Thursday that he's staying. "I'm where I want to be," he said. That's key for the district in maintaining consistency in the upper echelon of administration.

The other rumor is that the current board is bent on bringing in a superintendent at substantially lower compensation than Bauman's annual salary of $123,971 and even changing the administrative structure significantly. We're not sure if that rumor is being pushed by political interests, frustrated taxpayers or jealous employees, but the discussion is at best premature.

The board is meeting today just to begin to outline next steps. Priorities include adjusting the district's negotiating team and working out details of Bauman's departure. Putting pencil to potential compensation packages for her successor is far down the to-do list. In fact, compensation likely won't come into play until serious talks with top candidates begin.

So this is a good time for everyone to take a deep breath, wish a superb superintendent and human being the very best luck in her future, and focus on the most prudent ways to proceed. With every challenge comes opportunity, and this is no exception.