COEUR d’ALENE — Coeur d'Alene School District officials have launched a national search to find the replacement for Superintendent Steve Cook, who will be departing at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

Coeur d'Alene School Board Chair Jen Brumley said Thursday that the board is looking for "someone to continue with the work that has been done by Dr Cook. Namely working on the concerns from the audit and building on Portrait of a Graduate and the strategic plan."

When asked if any internal candidates are being considered, Brumley said the board would consider all qualified candidates. It is not specifically looking at anyone at this time.

The position pays $160,000 a year.

The board met Wednesday to discuss its next steps in the search. It considered six potential executive search firms and decided to meet with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates and Human Capital Enterprises before making a final selection.

The board hopes to have someone named by mid-April.

"We are embracing the opportunity to bring in someone that will continue to build up our district and put kids first," Brumley said.