This means war.
Idaho is coming for our leader, as multiple media outlets are reporting Coupeville Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Shank is one of three finalists for a similar job in Twin Falls.
Trustees narrowed their choices and announced them Saturday.
The finalists are Brady Dickinson, Twin Falls’ current director of operations, Monte Wollstenhulme, Superintendent of the Teton School District in Driggs, Idaho and Shank, the silver-haired, silver-tongued sage of the prairie.
Father to two current Coupeville High School students, Brian, a senior, and Ashlie, a sophomore, Dr. Shank came to Whidbey in 2013 after previously running the Juab School District in Utah.
During his tenure in Cow Town, he has spearheaded numerous improvements and been unfailingly polite, friendly and willing to work with the community in a manner some previous Superintendents were not.
From a sports angle, Dr. Shank was the driving force behind Coupeville passing a levy which has paid for new bleachers in the gym, improvements on the baseball and softball fields, a shiny new modern track oval (and accompanying facilities) and the upcoming new football bleachers.
The final round of interviews in Twin Falls are set for later this month, with a meet and greet Mar. 31. Trustees are expected to choose a replacement for the retiring Wiley Dobbs Apr. 3.
If you’ve been reading Coupeville Sports for any length of time (like, say … a day) you know I am not impartial.
So let me just say this — if Dr. Shank gets the new job and we lose my matinee idol (and his family) to the wilds of Idaho, I will congratulate him and wish him the best.
And then cry for three days straight.
Is that what you want, Dr. Shank? Is it?
Cause I will buy you more desserts at Christopher’s on Whidbey, if that tilts anything in our favor. Just sayin’.
Jim Shank is without question the worst teacher I had growing up. He had good intentions but was quite ignorant to reality and caused more problems than he solved.