Trustees pick Wilson to lead school district

The Weiser School District Board of Trustees hired Pioneer Elementary School Principal Wade Wilson to lead the district when current superintendent Wil Overgaard retires in June.

 The school board interviewed Wilson for about an hour during a special meeting last week. After the discussion, the school board opened the meeting to the public and made Wilson the offer, which he accepted.

 The board will negotiate the terms of a contract with Wilson in the coming weeks and months. Contracts for superintendents are usually two to three years in duration.

 School board member Marg Chipman said the district has  only had five superintendents in its history and Wilson is suited for the job.

 “He’s demonstrated his leadership qualities and love for the Weiser School District in his 17 years at Pioneer school,” she said.

 The search will begin soon for a new principal at Pioneer Elementary School to replace Wilson.

 He has worked for the school district for 28 years and also is the district’s academic achievement director. 

 “I can tell you that working in the Weiser School District in a handful of positions over the last 28 years has been an extremely fulfilling experience, and I feel truly honored to have the opportunity to continue to work closely with our board of trustees, district staff, and entire Weiser community in a leadership capacity,” Wilson said in an email to the Signal American.

 Overgaard will continue as district superintendent until his official retirement date at the end of June of this year. 

 Wilson said Overgaard  continues to provide guidance and experiences necessary to help provide a transition that will be as smooth as possible for the school district.

 Wilson said he began working toward his superintendent credential a year and a half ago with the encouragement of his wife, Angie. 

 He said he didn’t know what the future would hold at the time, but he was interested in learning more about system leadership.  

 “It has been a good experience. Mr. Overgaard, district clerk Kyla Dickerson, and others have taken me under their wings and made it a point to include me in some opportunities associated with district operations, outside my normal duties as a principal, over the last several months that have been very helpful for me,” he said. 

 Overgaard has led the Weiser School District for the past seven years. He has spent the past 25 years as an administrator and a total of 40 years in education, starting as a teacher in 1978 at Borah High School in Boise. 

 He also taught at Bishop Kelly High School.

 He started in Weiser in 1994 when he accepted the position as high school assistant principal in the Weiser School District. 

 He has since served as high school principal, fed- eral programs director and finally as superintendent.