Grant School District 3 Board names two superintendent finalists

The Grant School District #3 Board of Directors announced Jan. 26 that it has selected two finalists for the district superintendent opening: Buell Gonzales Jr. and Rebecca Nordtvedt. The announcement, released with a John Day/Canyon City header, sets the next step for community input as the board moves toward a final hire.

The district invited the public to a meet-and-greet with the applicants on Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Grant Union Jr./Sr. High School Commons. The session is an opportunity for parents, staff and residents to meet the candidates in person; no additional dates or a final appointment timeline were provided in the announcement.

Buell Gonzales Jr. is listed as the principal of South Baker Intermediate Elementary School in Baker City, identified variously as Baker School District and Baker 5J. Gonzales has served in district roles including athletic director and transportation supervisor, holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and an administrative certificate from George Fox University, and is noted as a 1993 graduate of the Prairie-area school district (reported as both "Prairie City School District" and "Prairie School District" across local accounts).

Rebecca Nordtvedt is the superintendent and elementary principal of the Enterprise School District in Enterprise, Oregon. Her prior roles include superintendent of the Wallowa Education Service District and superintendent of the Troy School District. Nordtvedt holds a Master of Education in guidance counseling reported both as from the University of Alaska and more specifically the University of Alaska Anchorage, and an administrative certificate from Portland State University. Local reporting also records her as a 1993 graduate of the Grant School District (reported as Grant School District #3 in some accounts).

The press-release-based announcement emphasized that both finalists have Grant County connections. The district did not supply quotes, applicant numbers, salary information, or a specific hiring date in the materials released Jan. 26; those details remain to be confirmed by the board or in subsequent district communications.

For Baker County residents, the superintendent selection matters for budgeting, staffing and programming decisions that affect classroom sizes, curriculum priorities and the district’s ability to secure state and federal grants. Leadership choices also influence long-term trends such as enrollment stability and local workforce development, which in turn can affect household decisions and property values in a rural county where school quality is a key community asset.

What comes next is the public meet-and-greet on Jan. 28 and whatever follow-up process the board announces afterward. Attending the Commons session is the clearest way for residents to assess the finalists’ priorities; the board’s eventual choice will shape Grant School District #3’s direction for years to come.