The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

December 31, 2009

Schools begin hunt for new chiefs

Many superintendent vacancies expected in state

By Tanner Kent

Another area superintendent is retiring.

And that means another area school board faces the daunting task of hiring its top administrator in the midst of a statewide glut of vacancies.

Maple River Supt. Willis Schoeb’s recent announcement of his retirement made him the most recent south-central Minnesota superintendents to announce plasn to resign or retire, including John Rokke in Waseca, John Larson in Truman and Nordy Nelson in St. James.

Statewide, about a dozen superintendent vacancies already have been listed, mostly for smaller outstate districts. But some are estimating there may be as many as 60 vacancies before the end of the school year — which amounts to about one-sixth of all superintendent jobs in the state.

In Maple River, the School Board decided at its Dec. 21 meeting to conduct a superintendent search itself, without the aid of a consulting firm. Joe Samuelson, board chairman, said the district will post its superintendent vacancy until the end of February when board members will begin going through applications and interviewing candidates.

“By April, we’re hoping to get started on a contract,” he said, adding later: “We definitely want someone who will work with existing staff. We have a good foundation here.”

The Waseca School Board hired a consulting firm — BKB Associates, which is based in Mankato — for an upfront cost of $4,500 plus a $1,500 cap in expenses.

And to help the district beat the hiring rush, BKB Associates has set an aggressive timeline for finding Rokke’s replacement. Even though Rokke does not officially retire until June 30, BKB is hoping to find the next superintendent months earlier.

Brian Boettcher, director of BKB Associates, said Waseca’s vacancy will be posted until Feb. 22 with the intent of finalizing a contract by the end of March. Meantime, Boettcher said he is helping the district develop a profile for its next superintendent and he credited the School Board for moving quickly in its process.

“They are a good month ahead in the process,” he said.

In Maple River, Schoeb said his four-year tenure was positive, but not without difficult moments.

In the past five years, the district has lost more than 100 students. And last spring, the district was forced to close a school site in Amboy in response to a $1.2 million shortfall.

But this fall, district residents renewed an $889-per-pupil operating levy. Maple River students have posted some of the region’s most competitive scores on state MCA-II tests in recent years, and Maple River High School has been named a top school nationwide for two consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.

“It’s been a very good experience here,” Schoeb said.

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