Federal Way School Board members unanimously approved a three-year superintendent’s contract with Rob Neu Tuesday evening.

Neu, who is now superintendent of the 11,500-student Waterford (Mich.) School District, will be paid $189,000 in his first year of work, according to a news release.

The board voted last week to hire Neu, a longtime educator and 47-year-old father of six. He’ll begin work July 1 to replace retiring Superintendent Tom Murphy, who’s been the Federal Way School District CEO for more than a decade. Murphy is paid $168,720 a year.

Board members picked Neu following a nationwide public search and progressive winnowing of the candidate pool to two semifinalists.

The other finalist, Peter Dion, is superintendent of the 6,200-student Novi (Mich.) School District. He and Neu work about 15 miles apart.

“We are extremely excited to have Mr. Neu as our next superintendent,” Board President Tony Moore said in the news release. “Our goal was to find great talent to meet the needs of the eighth largest school district in our state, as it continues the demanding work of increasing student achievement.”

Neu has varied experience in education. In addition to his superintendency, he’s worked as a high school business teacher, cooperative education coordinator, basketball and track coach, principal and assistant principal.

He has an Educational Specialist degree in educational leadership from Oakland University in Rochester, Minn., and a master’s degree in secondary school administration. You can see his professional bio here.

“He led Waterford through a difficult budget-cutting process required by a downturn in the Michigan economy,” the news release said. “Despite a 25-percent decrease in the district’s operating budget, the district has continued to improve student achievement.”

Murphy, 64, announced in October he would retire from the 22,000-student Federal Way School District at the conclusion of this school year.