Coeur d’Alene School Board selects new leadership for 2026

The Coeur d’Alene School Board appointed new leadership and welcomed two newly elected trustees during its regular monthly meeting on Jan. 15. Lesli Bjerke, Zone 4 representative and a board member since January 2022, was chosen to serve as chair, replacing Rebecca Smith whose term ended in 2025. Heather Tenbrink, representing Zone 3, will serve as vice chair.

Bjerke, who served as vice chair in January 2024 and won reelection in November 2025, framed the transition as a continuity of work on behalf of students and staff. “I am honored to serve our school district as board chair and I have the utmost respect for everyone on this board,” she said. “This is a big year for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools and I look forward to continuing the work we have done together to ensure the needs and success of our students and staff remain at the forefront of our efforts.”

The board also swore in trustees Lisa Aitken and Rick Rasmussen. Aitken ran unopposed; Rasmussen, who served as an interim trustee before the vote, won his race in November 2025. The board reappointed Tyler Morton as board treasurer and affirmed Marianne Southwick as clerk, while naming Korrei Kruger public records custodian.

For families and staff across Kootenai County, the leadership changes matter because the school board sets policy and budget priorities that affect school health services, special education, nutrition programs, transportation, and mental health supports. As chair, Bjerke will help steer decisions about how limited district resources are allocated, how equity is addressed across neighborhood schools, and how the district responds to public health concerns that affect classrooms.

The mix of re-elected and newly elected members suggests continuity on some policy fronts alongside opportunities for new priorities to emerge. Board roles such as treasurer and clerk help ensure fiscal oversight and transparency; naming a public records custodian underlines obligations for accountability and community access to information.

Board dynamics and priorities will shape local responses to ongoing challenges in Kootenai County schools: student mental health needs, staffing shortages, and ensuring that rural and low-income families receive equitable services. The coming months will show how the new leadership balances those demands with budget realities and state education mandates.

Residents who follow district decisions will want to watch upcoming board agendas and budget sessions to see how these leadership changes translate into policies and services at their students’ schools. The new board leadership will guide those conversations and decisions through the rest of the school year.