Cd'A schools invest in super position

COEUR d’ALENE — Trina Caudle will see a boost in her monthly salary while she takes on additional responsibilities as acting superintendent of the Coeur d’Alene School District.

Caudle, who will also remain in her position as director of secondary education, took over as acting superintendent after Matt Handelman’s resignation went into effect on May 1. According to Caudle’s amended contract, obtained through a public records request by The Press, Caudle will make an additional $3,000 a month while performing the duties of a superintendent.

The Press filed a public records request for Caudle’s amended contract, which was provided by District Board Clerk Lynn Towne after Caudle “authorized the release.” Towne told The Press Wednesday that the amended contact is still pending final approval from the district’s board of trustees during a special meeting on Monday.

For the current fiscal year, Caudle is paid a $103,020 salary. Under her amended contract, Caudle will make $11,585 per month.

For the months of May and June, the district will be paying handsomely for the position of superintendent. Former Superintendent Matt Handelman is collecting more than $44,000 for those two months. Adding Caudle’s pay means the district will be spending more than $67,000 on the superintendent position for those 60 days.

The amended contract stipulates Caudle will receive the additional pay only until a replacement superintendent has been selected.

“If at any point the position of superintendent is offered to and accepted by someone other than Caudle, the parties recognize and agree that Caudle will return to her prior position,” the amended contract states.

While working as acting superintendent, Caudle’s amended contract stipulates she will “have authorization to attend, at district expense, all meetings of the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to which the superintendent is invited.”

The district's board of trustees hopes to have an applicant selected to serve as interim superintendent for the 2017-18 school year, according to Board Chair Casey Morrisroe.

“It is our hope and expectation to have that position filled by June 30,” Morrisroe said. “The board will also be working to develop a nationwide search process to permanently fill our superintendent vacancy. We expect that search to commence in the fall and we look forward to engaging the community in this process.”