Don Hainlen only took one break in education to pursue another love: music.

In 1981, he quit teaching after about six years to become a piano tuner.

But his lifelong interest in music didn’t stop his jump back into schools.

“I missed the whole environment of education,” he said.

Superintendent of Chatfield Public Schools since July 2006, Hainlen is the second of three final candidates interviewing for the superintendent position at Austin Public Schools.

He was introduced to staff and then the community during a question-and-answer session at Christgau Hall Wednesday, followed that night by a final interview with the school board.

Overseeing an annual budget of $7 million, enrollment of 900 and a staff of 120 at Chatfield, Heinlen has spent his whole education career in small Minnesota districts. However, he sees the challenge of a larger system — comparing by saying an Austin High School graduating class would fill Chatfield High School — as “exciting.”

Hainlen has experience passing referendums, and has faced many challenges in the small districts.

For example, the Chatfield district has no written curriculum, a task he has been working to accomplish.

“I think success as a superintendent is when people around me and students are successful in what they do,” is how he defines success.

He has not worked with a district as diverse as Austin; however, about half of his high school population in Virginia, Minn., where he served as K-12 principal., was bused from the Red Lake Indian Reservation, but there were no English Language Learners.

“The culture at that reservation was important, and we had to honor and respect that,” he said.

School board members and community members expressed that concern.

When addressing his lack of experience with ELL students, Hainlen said that he has “no intention of doing the jobs of those administrators. Based on my experience, that’s not part of my background. We have seasoned professionals here.”

Heinlen explained he is a strong supporter of extracurricular activities, such as music and athletics.

“Music is a marvelous academic area,” he said during the question-and-answer session. “Music is a matter of decoding. People who are involved in music … typically helps that student in academic areas.”

If hired, Hainlen said his goal would be to become acquainted with staff and programs, but does not have an agenda to “gut” anything.

“Don’t create a crisis by changing things that don’t need to be fixed,” he said. “Set some realistic goals.”

When working with school boards, Hainlen said that “everybody brings to the table an important view, and different isn’t always wrong.”

School board member Dick Lees asked Heinlen what his first initiative would be if hired. He said “knowing the lay of the land” would be important.

“I think it would be a mistake to change anything,” he reiterated.

Board member Curt Rude asked what he would do to “enhance morale of all employees,” from cooks to teachers to paraprofessionals.

“Clear expectations is the key to working on morale,” Heinlen said. “You have to build relationships with the different bargaining groups.” He explained that his benchmark is “being true to what I say.”

Inevitably, budget cuts came up in discussion as board member Diana Wangsness asked what would come first.

Heinlen said that school districts’ budgets are 80 to 83 percent personnel expenses, so retirements would be a “pretty painless way to do it.”

“Not just teachers, not just administrators — it’s right across the board,” he said. “It’s going to come down to personnel. You’ll have to look at the general fund. Nobody wants to cut entire programs. On the other hand, it does not make any sense to weaken a program so much it is ineffective.”

With a history of successfully passing referendums, Heinlen said that the process revolves around producing a “clear message” to staff and the public, as well as examining voter histories and possibly bringing in the community for ideas.

So why does the Austin Public School District need Heinlen, board member Kathy Green asked.

“I do have experience that is consistent with what you need,” he said. “I think I have a passionate vision for education. “

Hairline’s education includes: doctorate in educational policy and administration, University of Minnesota; specialist degree in educational policy and administration, St. Cloud State University; master’s degree in music education, U of M; and bachelor of science degree in music education, SCSU.

His job experience includes as follows:

– Superintendent, Chatfield Public Schools, Chatfield, Minn, July 2006 to present

– Superintendent, Dassel-Cokato Public Schools, Dassel, Minn, July 2003 to June 2006

– Superintendent, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public Schools, Janesville, Minn., July 1996 to June 2003

– K-12 principal, St. Louis County School, Virginia, Minn., July 1989 to June 1996

– K-12 principal, Backus schools (now Pine River-Backus School District), Backus, Minn. (unknown time frame)

– 7-12 principal, Morris Public Schools, Morris, Minn., July 1987 to June 1989

– 5-12 instrumental music teacher, Fergus Falls Public Schools, Fergus Falls, Minn., July 1973 to June 1979