Not everyone is secretive about seeking school job

COEUR d’ALENE — Although finalists for the position of interim superintendent at the Coeur d’Alene School District won’t be announced for nearly a week, one longtime district employee has publicly thrown his name into the mix.

Mike Nelson, current director of curriculum and assessment, has created a website to promote himself as the best candidate for the one-year stint as the district’s leader.

“I am not running for office, no,” Nelson said of the website. “I put together an online portfolio because I want people to see my experience and commitment to the district.”

Nelson, with 19 years in the district, said he was asked by many people if he was going to pursue the superintendent position vacated by Matt Handelman. After a lot of deliberation with his family, Nelson said, he decided to apply as interim superintendent — a position the board of trustees is seeking to fill for a year while they search for a new superintendent.

The board put a caveat on the position, Nelson said. The individual selected to be interim superintendent cannot apply for the full-time position. Nelson said he is committed to Coeur d’Alene schools and, although he could see himself pursuing a formal superintendent position with the district down the road, the one-year stint is ideal for him at this point in his career.

“I want to make sure it’s not really an off-year for the district,” Nelson said. “I see so many good things going on in our schools and I would hate to re-focus for a year only to re-focus again a year later.”

Today is the final day to submit an application for the position.

Chair Casey Morrisroe told The Press Thursday the full school board will meet June 7 to review the applicant pool and select finalists who will be interviewed June 13 for the position. Each finalist will interview with the board before having a separate interview with a panel of district administrators.

“Information about the applicant pool will not be available until after the position closes and the board has the opportunity to review the applications on the 7th,” Morrisroe said.

The new interim superintendent should be announced by June 20, he added.

Morrisroe, on behalf of the board, thanked Trina Caudle, director of secondary education, for filling in as acting superintendent during the transition.

“She has done a fantastic job during a busy time in the school year and we commend her for her dedication and service to our community,” Morrisroe said.