COEUR d'ALENE - Wendell Wardell's time as chief operating officer of the Coeur d'Alene School District has come to an end.

Superintendent Matt Handelman alerted district employees by email Friday that Wardell is no longer employed by the public school system.

"As with any matter involving personnel, the district will afford Wendell the same level of privacy we would give to any other staff member going through a separation of employment," wrote Handelman, in the message received by The Press from an anonymous source. "We will be working on posting for the position in the near future."

The message did not indicate whether Wardell's departure was voluntary. School officials declined to provide any other details, because it is a personnel matter.

Through a public records request, The Press acquired copies of the minutes of a special meeting held Thursday by the school board. During the meeting, Trustee Terri Seymour made a motion for the board to go behind closed doors, into an executive session, "to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent or public school student."

The trustees returned to open session to consider several personnel actions on a consent agenda: four resignations and the termination of a district office employee identified only as "Employee A."

The slate of personnel actions was unanimously approved by board members Christa Hazel, Tom Hamilton, Dave Eubanks, Terri Seymour and Tom Hearn.

Wardell's employment with the district began May 31, 2012, during Hazel Bauman's tenure as school superintendent. He replaced Steve Briggs, the district's former chief financial officer who retired the previous November.

Wardell's annual salary was $108,173.70.

While Wardell was employed by the district, voters approved a $32.7 million facilities bond that has financed major renovations at four aging schools and other technology and infrastructure upgrades throughout the district. A new Winton Elementary building is now being constructed with funds from the bond. In addition, major security changes were made at district schools.

The projects and associated spending were overseen by Wardell, as was the process used by the district to acquire the administration's new central office building on Northwood Center Court, near the intersection of Northwest Boulevard and Ironwood Drive.

Wardell told The Press Friday that he was not prepared to discuss the matter at this time.