KSD names finalists in sup search

KELLOGG –– The Kellogg School District Board of Trustees met on Thursday night to begin the process of finding their new district superintendent.

It was just three years ago that the district went through this complex process before they confirmed Dr. Nancy Larsen as the person who would replace the then-retiring Woody Woodford.

Larsen announced in January that she had requested from the board to be let out of her contract for personal reasons and the board obliged her.

On Thursday night, along with Karen Echeverria from the Idaho School Boards Association, the board began the process of reviewing the applicants to fill Dr. Larsen’s position.

The review process was held in executive session to protect the privacy of the applicants, but prior to moving their meeting into executive session Echeverria discussed some of the ways that the board could utilize their executive session time.

She ran down various components of the process including how each board member would handle the reference calls as well as some of the other options that the board could utilize in their search before moving into the more private setting of executive session.

“The only thing we are going to talk about in the executive session are the qualities of the candidates,” Echeverria said.

Due to the personal nature of the applications, home addresses, phone numbers, and other personal information, each board member was required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

“The next we’ll do is go over the list of candidates,” Echeverria said. “If there is anyone on that list that anyone knows we’ll just make sure that you feel like you can be unbiased in your decision making relating to that candidate.”

The number of applicants was not released, but following the meeting they did announce their four finalists for the position.

Those remaining candidates are Bridgit Arkoosh, the principal of Holy Family Catholic School in Coeur d'Alene, Janet Avery, the curriculum director for the Jerome School District, Silvia McNeely, the superintendent of Wanette Public Schools, in Wanette, Okla., and lastly Lance Pearson, the superintendent of Victor Public Schools, in Victor, Mont.

If Pearson’s name sounds familiar, it may be because in 2018 he was the initial choice by the KSD Board to replace Woodford, but was unable to take the job when the Victor School Board wouldn’t let him out of his contract.

In 2018, the board held a series of open house events where the public was able to hear from the finalists prior to them making their decision, no word has been released concerning if they will follow the same path this time around.

The Shoshone News-Press will continue to follow this closely and provide updates as they become available.