Decision on superintendent finalists near

SANDPOINT — Lake Pend Oreille School Board members are preparing to introduce three superintendent candidates to the community.

Although the board is still narrowing down its current list of applicants, meetings are already set to interview each individual. The meetings will include a chance for the public to meet each candidate and ask questions of their own.

Meetings are set for May 7, 8 and 9, and the public interview portions begin 5:30 p.m. each day at Farmin Stidwell Elementary.

Provided everything goes smoothly throughout the interviews, the school board will have a new superintendent selected by mid-to-late May, just in time to step in when current superintendent Dick Cvitanich leaves to take over leadership of the Olympia School District in Washington state on July 1.

Board members plan to have the final three candidates selected this week. Their review process is aided by consultant Dennis Ray of Northwest Leadership Associates, an educational networking service. With the organization’s help, the board was able to generate strong early interest in the position.

The school board will be judging position candidates based on several different qualities. Members are looking for an individual with excellent verbal and written communication skills, the ability to motivate students, staff and the community, extensive educational administration experience and competency in interest-based bargaining. Honesty, integrity and a sense of humor are all valuable personal qualities for the job. Finally, each candidate must qualify for or possess an Idaho superintendent’s license .

As a school district, Lake Pend Oreille brings its own distinct set of challenges. There are currently 3,662 students and 11 schools spread over a large geographic area. There are also several changes to the district coming down the line due to revisions made in the Students Come First state education reform package. The implementation of those revisions, including an increased emphasis on technology and new teacher evaluation and reward systems, will require strong leadership and a deft administrative hand.