COEUR d'ALENE - Matt Handelman's new contract is signed and ready to go into effect on July 1, the day he officially takes over as superintendent of the Coeur d'Alene School District.

Handelman, the district's associate superintendent since 2010, was offered the position in May after Superintendent Hazel Bauman submitted her resignation so she could accept a superintendent's position in the Central Kitsap School District in western Washington.

"These are clearly exciting times," Handelman said.

As he steps into the district's highest leadership role, Handelman and the district staff will be overseeing the start and planning of several school construction projects being financed by the $32.5 million bond voters passed last summer.

The state-mandated Idaho Core Standards will be in place for the first time in classrooms this fall.

"There are a lot of great things going on, in many directions," Handelman said.

His new contract, approved by trustees on Monday, is for one year. Board members previously indicated they plan to search for a new superintendent sometime next year. They have encouraged Handelman to apply for the job.

Handelman's salary will be $115,000 for the year. The district will realize a cost savings because Bauman's salary was $123,971.

Bauman also contractually received through payroll, and paid taxes on, an additional $1,000 per month for expenses. Handelman's contract reflects the same.

There is no plan to fill the associate superintendent position at this time. Handelman's annual salary in that role is $105,000.

Handelman said he will sit down for the first time this week with his lead instructional team, handing off some of the duties he has been handling in his role as associate superintendent, primarily in charge of curriculum for all grades.

"We want to make sure we define our roles well," Handelman said. "There's a lot of work to be done."

Kathy Liverman, who is now principal at Skyway Elementary, will move to the district's central office where she will serve as director of elementary education. Rosie Astorquia, who has served as principal of Project-Bridge, the district's alternative high school, and as the district's director of secondary education, is retiring at the end of this year. She will return on a contractual basis to serve part-time as the director of secondary education.

Mike Lindquist, the assistant principal at Canfield Middle School, will take over as principal at Project-Bridge. A new principal has not yet been selected for Skyway.

Handelman said he has been meeting one-on-one with district office administrators and current and future board members.

He said he plans to begin reaching out to community and business leaders, building the kinds of relationships Bauman has maintained over the years.