Cd'A superintendent leaving

Coeur d'Alene School Superintendent Hazel Bauman announced Wednesday that she will be leaving the Coeur d'Alene School District to lead the Central Kitsap School District as its superintendent.

Bauman announced last week that she was a finalist for the position.

Details about the Coeur d'Alene School District's transition plan for hiring an interim superintendent are uncertain, but the school board will hold a special meeting at noon Friday at the Midtown Center to discuss its next steps.

"Hazel is a visionary and has exemplified a high level of dedicated service to the students and stakeholders of the Coeur d'Alene School District. She will be greatly missed," said board chair Tom Hamilton, in a prepared statement released by the school district.

Bauman said, in a press release, that the district's "strong and involved" school board members, its "excellent senior level administrative team," and district staff will "continue to serve our students, our families and our communities with the highest level of excellence."

Bauman cited an opportunity to be closer to her family on the West Coast as her reason for leaving, and said that she will still call Coeur d'Alene home.

"Coeur d'Alene has my heart. My husband, David, and I look forward to returning in a few years to retire in the community I have loved for almost 40 years," Bauman said.

The Kitsap Sun reported Wednesday that Bauman will serve in a one-year superintendent role at Central Kitsap School District beginning July 1.

She has served as superintendent of the Coeur d'Alene School District since June 2008 and has worked for the school district for 29 years.