IDAHO FALLS — The Bonneville School District has named one of its own as its new superintendent.

Scott Woolstenhulme will replace outgoing superintendent Chuck Shackett at the end of this school year, trustees announced during a board meeting Wednesday night.

“It was not an easy decision, but I feel like we’ve done our due diligence,” said trustee Chad Dance.

Woolstenhulme is Bonneville’s assistant superintendent. He began working in the district office in 2011. He has helped lead Bonneville through several years of student population growth — and demands for infrastructure equipped to absorb it.

An emotional Woolstehhulme said he didn’t expect to step into a new leadership role with the district so soon.

“I am really really excited for this opportunity,” Woolstenhulme said, adding, “I will do everything I can to work as hard as I can to keep that trust.”

Trustees stressed the hours spent interviewing Woolstenhulme and other superintendent candidates. Last month, the board narrowed its search to two: Woolstenhulme and John Abrams, superintendent of the Laramie School District, in Pine Bluffs, Wyo.

“Both (candidates) love education and both love the students,” said trustee Amy Landers. “It was very very difficult.”

Shackett’s two-year contract expires June 30, 2019.

As assistant superintendent, Woolstenhulme directs the human resource office and is in charge of updating job descriptions, reviewing applications and hiring both certified and classified employees, according to the district’s webpage. He also oversees “supervision and evaluation of all district employees, personnel files, equal opportunity and worker’s compensation.”