Nine seek CDA hot seat
The Coeur d’Alene School District board of trustees plans to select four finalists to interview on Nov. 15 from the nine eligible applicants for trustee of Zone 3.
The position was declared vacant on Oct. 4, after the resignation of former Trustee Tambra Pickford, and the board must appoint a person to serve the remainder of the term through December 2023 according to Idaho Code.
The deadline to appoint the new trustee is Jan. 1, as Idaho Code 33-504 says the board has 90 days after declaring the vacancy to make the appointment.
Scott Maben, director of communications, said Friday that the board will invite the nine applicants to answer additional questions in writing next week. They'll then winnow down the field to four finalists based on the responses and initial application letters.
The discussion to select the four finalists will be held in an open board meeting the morning of Nov. 15, and those four will be interviewed that evening in an open meeting. The exact time and location for the meetings will be determined.
Maben said the new trustee could be selected at the conclusion of the interviews.
The nine applicants are Nicholas Lepire, Heather Tenbrink, Jen Jeanselme, Gary Patterson, Matthew Brawner, Kevin King, Kevin Bitnoff, Jeanette Laster and Brandon Trca.
The Press filed a public records request for the nine applications. Here are brief snapshots of all nine.
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Nicholas Lepire of Coeur d’Alene has been a deputy prosecutor for Bonner County since 2014, and was a deputy prosecutor in Lewiston prior to that.
Lepire said he has grown up in Coeur d’Alene since third grade and has a wife and two children. He said he spent some time in schools as a parent volunteer as well as volunteered in the high schools as a mock trial coach and judge. That gave him a hunger to be more involved in the schools.
Lepire said his top three objectives as a trustee would be partnership and promoting trust and confidence with parents while implementing district policies, working toward implementing an equity framework and ensuring the schools continue to be safe for children.
Lepire said he recognizes there are very strong feelings among families and parents on multiple sides of current health concerns, and he believes it's important to let them know their voice is heard.
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Heather Tenbrink of Coeur d’Alene has lived in Zone 3 with her husband and four kids for 17 years, and her children have been enrolled in the district schools. She said she has spent significant time as a school volunteer. She also served two years as president of the Skyway PTA and three years as treasurer.
Tenbrink holds a bachelor's degree in plant science from Purdue University. She's employed part-time remotely as a tax accountant with a firm in Meridian. She also has worked as a lab scientist in a research institution.
She said those experiences, including her experience tutoring at North Idaho College, teaching through church and her involvement as a parent and volunteer, have equipped her with skills that will be useful to serve the community.
Tenbrink said her top three objectives are to attract and retain good people, provide quality and diverse programs and prepare and plan for growth.
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Editor's note: In today's print edition, information about Jeanselme's family was incorrect. This accurately reflects the number of children.
Jen Jeanselme has spent the last 12 years in Coeur d’Alene with her husband and four children. One child is in college and the other three attend district schools. She works as a property manager for Chubbs Hospitality.
Over the years, Jeanselme said she and her husband have been very active in the school district, volunteering in classrooms and helping with fundraisers or supporting athletics. She has done some substitute teaching.
She said she is a firm believer in a combination of both an "old school and new school" approach to education without having to sacrifice values while striking a balance of views on either side of an issue.
Jeanselme said her top three objectives are transparency in all communication to the public, displaying a united front as board members and focusing on what’s best for all students while implementing policies.
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Gary Patterson of Hayden has lived in the area since 2016 and is employed as a Health Education Specialist with Panhandle Health. He has also been a biology instructor and science curriculum support specialist for 30 years in middle schools to universities throughout the U.S., and has served as a substitute teacher in the Coeur d’Alene School District.
As he has no children or grandchildren attending school in the district, Patterson said he has the ability to listen without bias to all sides of an issue.
Patterson said his top three objectives are to look for ways to incorporate an exploration of career options into every subject area, allow teachers the time and freedom to develop lessons that are “outside of the box” such as case studies and project-based learning and ensure everyone has a voice.
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Matthew Brawner of Coeur d’Alene lived in the area from 2010 to 2015, and then moved back in 2019 with his wife and three children, two of whom are enrolled in district schools.
Brawner holds a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology from Western Washington University and a masters in political science from the University of Amsterdam. He is the off-site owner of a restaurant in Bellingham, Wash., and said as he now has the time, he wants to spend it contributing to the success of his community’s education system.
Brawner said he wants to help focus on the health of the administrative infrastructure that will allow the district to support its teachers and staff in providing opportunities for students to reach better outcomes more often.
For his top three objectives, Brawner said he wants to work to develop resources and tools to help teachers connect with students, ensure the district can provide equity of access to all students and help the district navigate budget shortfalls.
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Kevin King of Coeur d’Alene is the parent of two children in the district, and a freelance electronics engineer. King said he's experienced in various technological disciplines as well as business startup management.
King said the area is experiencing an influx of people leaving other states they feel are no longer providing a healthy learning environment, and he would like to provide a learning environment focused on traditional fundamental academics with an emphasis on technology, leadership, civics, the Constitution and American history.
For his top three objectives, King said he wants to focus on maintaining a learning environment free of divisive ideas, fostering a trust relationship with parents and welcoming parents into the decision making process and providing students with practical life skills such as STEM skills.
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Kevin Bitnoff of Coeur d’Alene is the parent of four daughters, three of whom are currently enrolled in the school district, and coaches his local girls soccer team. He's an active member of the PTA for Skyway Elementary and a classroom volunteer.
Bitnoff said he has dedicated his professional life to consulting business owners in growing and scaling their businesses, managing a multi-million dollar yearly budget and overseeing 85 individuals. He works as a consulting director for Precoa.
He said he's passionate about the Constitution and the system and processes it provides for a safe and fair education and election process.
Bitnoff said his top three objectives are to secure government-paid funding for new schools in the district, focus on teacher compensation, faculty support and improved classroom curriculum and extracurricular activities and maintain a pro-choice environment for parents, students and teachers.
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Jeanette Laster of Coeur d’Alene has been living in Coeur d’Alene since 2008 and is the current executive director for the Human Rights Education Institute.
Laster said she has served in the district since 2009 on a parent-involved committee, community stakeholder position or liaison under four consecutive superintendent task forces.
Laster said she's extremely passionate about inclusion and human rights and will strive to help the district ensure citizens and parents feel they're receiving transparency and confidence in the vision of innovation in learning and excellence through district programs.
As for her objectives, Laster said she'll ensure the district redevelops, leverages and strengthens community stakeholder partnerships locally and at the state level. She said the district must also prioritize and continue to be inclusive, remove barriers to public education and focus on mental wellness.
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Brandon Trca of Coeur d’Alene has two children in the district. He has a bachelor's in communications from University of Northern Iowa. Trca works as a producer for Farmers Insurance in Coeur d’Alene and said he has a desire to represent his community. He's applying for the position to give back and do his part as a resident.
Trca said his top three objectives are creating a productive work partnership with his peers and community, helping find a resolution through a convergence of ideas and emphasizing attentiveness to the ideas of others.