School board considers hiring former superintendent Russ Kinzer

The Bigfork school board is looking to former superintendent Russ Kinzer to replace outgoing superintendent Cynthia Clary.

At a special board meeting Jan. 21, the trustees voted unanimously to proceed with contract negotiations with Kinzer.

Bigfork Schools Business Manager Eda Taylor said Kinzer is amenable to the position of interim superintendent while the district looks for a more permanent replacement for Clary, who announced her resignation earlier this month. Clary’s last day is Jan. 31. She said she resigned due to family medical issues.

Kinzer’s contract will be negotiated by a team from the district and will pay him no more annually than Clary’s salary of $100,430.

Taylor said the search for a superintendent usually takes around 10 weeks, and the district hopes to have a permanent replacement by July 1.

Taylor said the district has not decided who will conduct the search for a permanent replacement, but options include: the district, the Montana School Boards Association, and a business previously used by the district.

The district may conduct a special hearing today at 5 p.m. to decide how to proceed with the search committee, Taylor said.

Kinzer, a longtime Bigfork educator, retired from the Bigfork school district in 2010 and lives in the Flathead Valley.