Steamboat Springs — Northwest Colorado BOCES Executive Director and Special Education Coordinator Amy Bollinger will leave the organization after her current contract expires June 30.

Bollinger notified the NW BOCES board of her plans not to seek renewal of her contract sometime after the holiday break, and the board acknowledged the decision at a meeting Jan. 14.

“It’s not something we expected, but it’s a personal choice. She’s returning to be closer to home and her family,” said Brian Hoza, NW BOCES board president. “It’s something we support, and we’ve approved.”

Hoza said the search for a replacement for Bollinger has begun, and a job posting was scheduled to go on the NW BOCES website and in other locations Tuesday. She is expected to help with the transition to a new executive director, Hoza said.

Bollinger said her decision to leave NW BOCES should not be seen as a negative reflection on the organization.

“I am excited and pleased with the positive and innovative changes that have come to life during my time with the organization,” Bollinger said in an email regarding her departure. “I am confident that the organization will continue its forward movement, especially with the foundation of the recently developed 2015-2018 Northwest BOCES Strategic Action Plan document in place.”

Bollinger took the position of executive director in July 2013, following the retirement of Jane Toothaker, who served 15 years as executive director and more than 30 years as an employee of the organization.

Bollinger currently oversees NW BOCES programs at its six-member districts, including Steamboat Springs, Hayden and South Routt school districts.

Prior to Bollinger’s BOCES tenure, the organization faced a number of financial woes, including overspending and subsequent cuts to close the budget gap between 2008 and 2011.

Shortly after Bollinger took the position, the Steamboat Springs School District applied through the Colorado Department of Education in the fall of 2013 to withdraw from NW BOCES services, a request later denied by the CDE.

Since taking the helm, Bollinger has restructured her administrative team and, along with representatives from each member district, created the 2015-18 strategic plan.

“We’ve successfully moved through some restructuring and have improved some things,” Hoza said. “Now, we want to maintain that momentum.”

Hoza said that although the timing of Bollinger’s departure wasn’t ideal, he felt that with a new strategic plan in place the organization was headed in the right direction.

“We hope to find an equally qualified and capable individual to follow in her footsteps,” Hoza said.

Hoza said the job would be posted for about a month.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow