Bradshaw offered superintendent position

In a unanimous vote, the Columbia Falls School District 6 board voted Jan. 30 to offer Steven Bradshaw the school superintendent position.

Bradshaw has been the superintendent of the Sitka, Alaska School District for the past 13 years and was a principal there for three years before that. He edged out superintendents Craig Barringer, of Conrad, and Kim Harding, of Sheridan, for the job.

“He’s an outstanding candidate,” board vice-chairman Dean Chisholm said. “He’s a great fit for the community and has a wealth of experience.”

Contacted the next day, Bradshaw said he was excited about the opportunity.

“I’m happy to have the offer,” he said. “I look forward to trying to carry on what Dr. (Michael) Nicosia has done.”

Nicosia will retire at the end of the school year after 19 years at the helm.

Bradshaw said he was impressed with the school staff and the community.

“I don’t think there’s any better place to live in Montana,” he said.

Earlier in the week, the school board interviewed each candidate for about an hour. The interviews were open to the public and largely attended by teachers and school administrators. Only a handful of residents attended.

The school board also decided it would handle contract negotiations with Bradshaw. Chisholm, who is an attorney, said he would assist the board in that process.

Nicosia’s salary was $119,500 annually prior to this year, when he took a large pay cut. He is currently working for one-third of his salary in exchange for time off so he could spend more time with his children, who are active in sports and other activities.

Bradshaw has already resigned from the Sitka post, effective at the end of the school year. Earlier in the week he said he wanted to move back to Montana. His wife, Sandy, is a Great Falls native and has spent her career teaching at the elementary level, and Bradshaw was a school administrator in Red Lodge and Hardin prior to his move to Alaska.

At age 62, Bradshaw told the board he expected to stay at the post 5 to 10 years, and closer to eight. He also openly wondered why no administrative staff from within School District 6 applied for the post.