The search for the new Lakeview Elementary principal included applicants from Arizona and Utah, but the best candidate was already working for the district, said Superintendent Dr.

Tuesday, June 05, 2001

The search for the new Lakeview Elementary principal included applicants from Arizona and Utah, but the best candidate was already working for the district, said Superintendent Dr. David Prescott.

At Monday’s regular meeting the Albert Lea school board approved the appointment of Jean Jordan as the new principal at Lakeview Elementary.

Prescott said Jordan was the clear choice among the five finalists. Though the interview committee was prepared to do two rounds of interviews, they only needed one before settling on Jordan.

&uot;She was the strongest finalist, and we’re fortunate she already worked for us,&uot; Prescott said.

After the position was posted last month, Prescott said more than 30 applications poured in to the district from across the country. Jordan was the only finalist from within the district.

&uot;It was an exciting opportunity for the district both in terms of the number of applicants and the caliber of the finalists,&uot; said board chairwoman Carol Haun.

The Lakeview position came open a month ago when principal David Paschke announced his retirement.

In other school board news:

n The district-wide sale of unusable and surplus items is scheduled for June 15 from noon to 8 p.m. and June 16 from 8 a.m. to noon. Facilities and Transportation Director Bruce Olson told the board thousands of desks, tables, chairs, carts, computers and other items will be available to the public for reasonable prices.

n Curriculum Director Judy Knudtson said several new textbooks have been adopted for use next year including a Law & Business text, a Computer Applications & Keyboarding text, a Skills for Independent Living text, new books for eighth-grade physical science and ninth-grade earth science, an updated industrial technology text and new math texts for grades 6-9.

n The board voted to renew a contract with HealthReach for physical and occupational therapy services for the next school year. Prescott said rates of $39 per hour for physical therapy and $25 per hour for occupational therapy are unchanged from last year’s contract.