Box Elder superintendent now head in Chinook

Darrin Hannum, the Box Elder school superintendent, has been working in his position for two years, and has worked with the Box Elder School District for 12 years. He is now moving to a new home.

Hannum said his last day at Box Elder will be June 30 and his first day in Chinook will by July 1.

“I heard it was open and applied,” Hannum said. “It’s a good community, much like Box Elder.”

Hannum lives in Havre, but is now looking for a home in Chinook, and his children attend school in the Chinook School District. He said it will be a good opportunity to work with his children every day and take on some new challenges.

“It’s exciting, but sad, because I like it here,” he said. “ … I have enjoyed the community, staff and students. It’s a phenomenal group of people. I consider a lot of them family, and I’m hoping to be able to keep in touch with a lot of folks along the way.”

He added that he is excited for the new opportunity and community of Chinook.

Hannum and the Mary Lou Rosette, the chair of Box Elder school board, are working this week to put out a notice of vacancy so they can begin to look for a new superintendent of schools.

“We’re sad that he’s leaving, but we’re happy for him that he gets to be closer to his family,” Rosette said. “We wish him the best of luck.”

She said that she and Hannum are contacting the Montana School Board Association to help them with their search for a new superintendent. The MSBA will talk to them about what they are looking for and what they want to happen at their school and then will cast a net to try and get candidates for Box Elder.

Jay Eslick, the 20-year veteran superintendent of Chinook, said it is time for him to retire. He said after his contract is up in June, he is going to work with his daughter and son-in-law at Triple Dog Brewery Co. in Havre, which he is a part-owner of.

“I feel I’ve had a great run here,” Eslick said. “I’ve been extremely fortunate to have outstanding teachers and staff. Our kids are fantastic. The relationship myself and my family have made over the years are satisfying.”

He said that he feels good about his stay as superintendent.

“Twenty years is a good number, considering the average is three to five years,” he said.

Eslick has been in contact with Hannum to train him for his old position.

“We are in full transition mode,” Eslick said. “ … I’ll show him where all the stuff is so he can slide in here and hit the ground running.”