The hunt for the right person to fill the big shoes of Darrell Coulture is over for the Rocky View School Division (RVS).

Larry Paul has been appointed RVS's associate superintendent of business and operation, effective Jan. 15.

Superintendent of Schools Greg Luterbach says Paul rings a full spectrum of experience from his 27 years in public education, supporting boards of education and senior education teams in the business and operations portfolio.

"His track record and reputation promise our jurisdiction will continue to achieve the excellence and innovation across all of our business and operations services," says Luterbach.

Paul has been the chief financial officer/secretary-treasurer for the Central Okanagan School District in British Columbia since 2001. In 2004 he was seconded to the Ministry of Education as Director of Technology Implementation for one year to lead the province’s technology and procurement initiatives. He also has held the position of acting secretary-treasurer and director of finance at the Central Okanagan School District and the manager of finance at Coquitlam School District.

In June, Darrell Couture, long-time associate superintendent of business and operations, announced that he will retire on February 16, 2018.

Couture was first hired by Rocky View in 1988. In the 29 years since, he's led the way with the school division by providing innovative facility designs, shoring up educational partnerships, and negotiating sales and land acquisitions. During his tenure, he's worked with ten superintendents and 10 elected school boards.