Cd'A schools hire new finance director

Coeur d’Alene public schools announced Chris Shipley, a certified public accountant with 10 years of public accounting experience, has been selected to serve as the school district’s director of finance and operations.

Shipley will join the district’s administrative team as plans are being prepared for major school additions and renovations funded by a $35.5 million bond measure which was approved in March.

He replaces Brian Wallace, who joined the district in 2015, and is leaving to be the chief financial officer at the Lakeland Joint School District in Rathdrum.

“I’m very excited to welcome Chris to the district and the finance department. As an auditor with years of governmental accounting experience, he knows that financial accountability is key in a public organization,” said Katie Ebner, business manager for the district, in a news release. “He will be a great leader to help ensure accountability as we continue to serve our kids and community.”

Shipley currently is director of audit and accounting service at Magnuson McHugh and Co., an accounting firm in Coeur d’Alene. He joined the firm in December 2006. Prior to that he was with Isothermal Systems Research/SprayCool in Liberty Lake, and United Health Services Credit Union in Spokane. He has bachelor of finance and bachelor of economics degrees from the University of Idaho, and he became a certified public accountant in 2007.

“I am honored to be selected to serve the students, parents and administration of the Coeur d’Alene School District as your director of finance and operations. I look forward to the challenges and success that we will achieve together,” Shipley said.

Shipley will begin as director of finance and operations on July 24. He will oversee district financial planning and budgeting, purchasing, facilities and property management, transportation, maintenance, nutrition services, and other operational functions.