Coeur d’Alene trustees have selected a 29-year school veteran to the district’s vacant superintendent’s post.

At its meeting Monday night, the school board is expected to OK a contract agreement with Steven Cook. The deputy superintendent of the Douglas County School District in suburban Denver, Cook will take over as superintendent on July 1.

Cook wears many hats in the Douglas County district; he oversees professional development, curriculum, special education and gifted programs, security, evaluation, academic systems, library and media services, and the career and technical education departments. The Douglas County district has an enrollment of 68,000, compared to Coeur d’Alene’s enrollment of 10,800.

“Dr. Cook emerged as a visionary leader who places great emphasis on academic excellence, communication, community involvement, integrity and relationships,” board chairman Casey Morrisroe said in a news release Monday. “We believe he is the right person at this time to lead our school system.”

“We need to provide students an education that is relevant and useful and prepares them to be critical thinkers, resilient learners and good people,” Cook said. “Our schools also must meet the expectation to help students achieve and grow to high standards.”

Cook will receive $160,000 a year plus benefits. In 2017-18, only four Idaho superintendents commanded a higher salary.

Cook will succeed Stan Olson, a former Boise superintendent who is heading the Coeur d’Alene district on an interim basis.