The professional-technical high school slated to be built this year on the Kootenai Technical Education Campus on the Rathdrum Prairie will soon have a principal.

The KTEC board and the Coeur d'Alene School District are in the process of hiring an individual whose work time will be evenly split into two positions - one as administrator of the new high school and the other as coordinator of professional-technical education programs for the school district.

"My vision is that this person really gets out and talks to our students and parents about PTE," said Hazel Bauman, Coeur d'Alene superintendent.

While working for the school district, the individual hired will also be charged with creating more professional-technical education opportunities on the district's campuses. Bauman said the district programs will be aimed at middle and high school students and will be in addition to the offerings at KTEC high school.

The school district will pay half the individual's salary, and KTEC will pay the other half.

Bauman said the salary range for the 12-month position is $80,000 to $90,000.

The district will pay its share using funds that have become available since the district is not replacing Pam Pratt, director of elementary education who retired in June.

Because as KTEC principal the individual will be directly involved in the process of constructing the high school, part of KTEC's portion of the individual's salary will come from tax dollars collected through school facilities levies approved a year ago by taxpayers in the Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland school districts. The two-year levies were floated before voters for the specific purpose of funding construction of the professional-technical high school.

The cost for the administrator will be borne by the three districts as part of the operational costs.

The principal's position at KTEC will remain half-time after the school opens, said Jerry Keane, Post Falls superintendent and chair of KTEC's governing board.

"There will be no more than 150 kids in the facility at one time. That generally does not warrant a full-time principal," Keane said.

Construction of the 54,000-square-foot $9.5 million KTEC high school is expected to begin this fall with the opening planned for fall 2012.

It is a joint project of a cooperative formed by the three school districts.

KTEC high school will offer classes in skilled trades such as health occupations, welding, construction and automotive to juniors and seniors in the three districts.

Construction of the high school is out for bid with the proposals due Aug. 16.

The KTEC governing board's next meeting is 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at Post Falls High School. They will consider acceptance of the bids and possibly consider hiring a principal.