COEUR d'ALENE - School board members in Coeur d'Alene are going to take their time in hiring a new superintendent.

District trustees met Friday and offered Associate Superintendent Matt Handelman the interim superintendent's position beginning July 1.

Handelman, who has been with the school district in his current position since 2010, accepted the offer.

"I'm honored. I'm very excited for the opportunity ... I appreciate the faith I hear you're putting in me. I won't let you down," Handelman said.

Before recommending that the board select Handelman to lead the district on an interim basis, board chair Tom Hamilton said he thinks the school district has a strong executive team and faces many current challenges, including ongoing contract negotiations and the implementation of the Common Core standards in the fall.

"In my view the disruption to that executive team beyond the one that Mrs. Bauman has created would be counterproductive," Hamilton said.

He said he would like to see the board and administration continue with plans to work on strategic planning during the summer months.

"Out of that strategic planning, I believe that we would define mission, value and goals that would help us develop criteria for a superintendent search," Hamilton said.

Hamilton then strongly encouraged Handelman to apply for the position.

"Matt, I do believe the board has to go through the process, and I would personally like to offer you the interim position because I believe you're in the best position to lead us at this time," Hamilton said.

Regarding the timeline for searching for a new superintendent, Hamilton said the upcoming strategic planning work will place the board in a good position to start searching for a new superintendent in December or January.

During the meeting, the board also formally accepted the resignation of Superintendent Hazel Bauman, and released her from her three-year contract effective July 1. Bauman announced Wednesday that she is leaving the Coeur d'Alene School District to accept a superintendent's position in the Central Kitsap School District in western Washington.

The trustees were unanimously in favor of offering Handelman the job.

"I think this is the best decision for the district ... because of the ability of Mr. Handelman and because we do have a strong team," said Jim Hightower.

The board will discuss and negotiate the terms of Handelman's new contract and have it in place by July 1.

For the past two years, Handelman has served as the elementary director and curriculum director for the district. Prior to coming to Coeur d'Alene, Handelman was principal of Moran Prairie Elementary School in Spokane for nine years.