Wallace Schools Hire Former Kellogg Superintendent

The Wallace School District has hired Kellogg’s former superintendent to lead the district on an interim basis.

Larry Curry, 60, will serve as Wallace’s superintendent until the end of the school year at a salary of $17,000. His employment will last from Jan. 31 to June 15. Curry won’t receive medical benefits because he was hired as an independent contractor.

“I’m just looking forward to the challenge of it and to see if I can help them get through the rest of the year,” said Curry, who accepted the offer Thursday.

“I have to first get a handle on what’s going on,” said the Kingston resident. Among the issues in the Wallace district, Curry said, are declining enrollment and the likelihood of running a supplemental levy election in the spring.

Curry takes over for Nancy Vandeventer, who resigned Dec. 29 due to differences in philosophy between herself and the school board. Vandeventer was hired July 1, 1998.

School board member Nancy Kosonen said the board reviewed “several” applications for the interim position before selecting Curry.

“We’re real happy to have him,” Kosonen said. “He’s real familiar with the valley.”

Kosonen said the school board hopes to fill the permanent superintendent’s position during the summer. Curry said he is not currently considering applying for the permanent position.

Curry has worked in the education field for 35 years, 31 of them in Kellogg. He was superintendent there 13 years. Curry grew up in the Orofino area and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Idaho.