Handelman turned down for Cheney job

COEUR d'ALENE — Coeur d'Alene School District Superintendent Matt Handelman was not named as the next superintendent of the Cheney Public Schools, according to an announcement Monday by the Washington school district’s administration.

Handelman, who has been the superintendent of Coeur d'Alene schools since 2013 and has been with the district since 2010, was announced earlier this month as a finalist to replace Cheney Public Schools Superintendent Debra Clemens. All three finalists for the position participated in public forums last week, and Monday the district announced that Rob Roettger will become the district's next superintendent. Roettger, 44, will assume his role as superintendent on July 1, 2016.

According to the release, Roettger currently serves as the superintendent of the Lind and Ritzville Cooperative School Districts in Washington, and he received "glowing" reviews from the chairs of both boards when applying for the position.

"The board is pleased to welcome such an outstanding leader to the district, who will continue the forward progress and momentum of the school district realized from Dr. Clemens' leadership," the release states.

The position in Cheney was the second superintendent job Handelman has applied for this year. In March, he announced he was pursuing an opening with the Edmonds School District, where he started his administrative career as a principal two decades ago.