Cvitanich gets a 'super' goodbye

SANDPOINT — Bittersweet sentiment ruled the room Wednesday as residents said their farewells to Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Dick Cvitanich.

Held at the Panhandle State Bank conference room, the party allowed community leaders to express their well-wishes before LPOSD’s top administrator departs for a new job leading Olympia School District in Washington state.

“It’s really nice to see so many people show up who have made our school district so great,” Cvitanich said.

Cvitanich originally decided to seek out the Olympia position after discussing the matter with his family.

Both he and his wife, Diane, have relatives in the Puget Sound region, and most importantly, the position will allow the Cvitanich family more time with his  mother-in-law, who has some medical issues. Given those factors, the move seemed necessary.

After undergoing a full day of interviews with the school district’s board, teachers and community members, the district overseers unanimously selected Cvitanich as the new superintendent. He will take over the position in July after leaving his current position at the end of June.

However, the move isn’t an easy one for Cvitanich. He said the district’s board, teachers and administrators are second to none. After developing close relationships with many of his coworkers, he finds it difficult to leave for new territory.

Furthermore, the new job means leaving the wonderful local environment. From the lakeside and mountain vistas to frequent Schweitzer ski trips in the winter, the region’s beauty is difficult to match, Cvitanich said. He told a group of party attendees that during his morning bike ride, he realized more pointedly than ever that this was the town in which he was most at peace.

For their part, the visitors were sad to see Cvitanich leave. Attendee Deborah McShane praised his mediation skills and administrative clarity.

“Everything started to fall into place in this school district thanks to his visionary leadership,” she said. “I think he’s a model for the community’s leaders.”

However, Cvitanich believes the district is in good hands with the hiring of Shawn Woodward as his replacement. The two had a chance to spend significant time together last week, and Cvitanich came away impressed by their interactions.

“He’s going to be a great addition to the district,” he said.