Cd'A schools host forums on search for superintendent

| October 20, 2017 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — The firm leading the search for a new superintendent for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools will meet next week with community and school district stakeholders, including parents and property owners.

Previous superintendent Matt Handelman left the position last spring. Stan Olson is serving as interim superintendent for the 2017-18 school year.

The feedback received during these meetings will provide the board and consultants information about the staff and community perceptions of school district issues facing the new superintendent and the qualities needed to be successful in the job. Information gathered from these meetings also will play an important role in recruiting and vetting candidates.

McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, has scheduled two public forums:

- Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Lake City High School auditorium, 6101 N. Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene.

- Thursday, Oct. 26 at noon at Hayden City Hall, 8930 N. Government Way, Hayden.

In addition, representatives of the area’s business community are invited to meet with the consultants on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the community room at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave.

For those who wish to participate but are unable to attend one of the meetings, a survey on SurveyMonkey will open Oct. 24 and close Nov. 5.

McPherson & Jacobson also will meet next week with school district employees, including teachers, classified staff and administrators, as well as with high school student leaders.

On Nov. 7 the Board of Trustees and McPherson & Jacobson will review stakeholder input, discuss interview questions, review the selection timeline, and discuss compensation, benefit package and contract components.

Recruitment for a permanent superintendent began this fall, and applications are due by Jan. 4, 2018.

The board also established a target salary range of $155,000 to $180,000 for the position, depending on education and experience. When he left the district, Handelman’s contracted salary was $130,849.

McPherson & Jacobson will bring a list of candidates to the trustees on Jan. 22, 2018, and the Board of Trustees plans to interview top contenders for the job during the week of Jan. 29, 2018. The new superintendent’s start date will be July 1, 2018.

More information about the search can be found at www. cdaschools.org/ superintendentsearch.