2 remain in superintendent search
Published 9:21 am Friday, February 13, 2009
The Albert Lea school board Thursday narrowed the number of candidates for superintendent to two from three.
In determining the number of site visits to make, some board members favored visiting all three, while others favored two. There was discussion about the need to show progress in the superintendent search. Eventually board member Sally Ehrhardt moved to visit the Pine River-Buckus School District and the Bird Island, Olivia, Lake Lillian School District. Board member Jill Marin seconded the motion.
On a 4-2 vote, the board agreed.
That meant Joe Brown, superintendent of the Grand Meadow School District, was no longer part of the search and the remaining candidates are:
Cathy Bettino, superintendent of the Pine River-Backus School District.
Mike Funk, superintendent of the Bird Island, Olivia, Lake Lillian School District, termed BOLD.
Community groups met with finalists during the past two days and representatives from each group gave reports to the board. After a break, the board began deliberations. Like last week, candidates were referenced as numbers. This time, the thin veil was lifted publicly near the end of the meeting. Chairman Bill Leland read which candidates matched which numbers.
After consultants from Mankato-based BKB Associates spelled out steps in the search process, former board chairman Ken Petersen said he favors site visits — meeting people in the finalists’ school districts — and said he would like to do site visits for Bettino and Funk. He said he seeks someone with good personnel-management skills, strategic planning, a fit with the community and staff, and can provide continuing leadership.
Marin and Ehrhardt agreed. Ehrhardt said she contacted references for Bettino and one said she “was the best thing that ever happened to our district; we don’t want to lose this person.”
Board member Linda Laurie said she heard similar themes from all three but wants to see more of Bettino and Funk.
Board member Bill Villarreal said he felt all three deserve thorough background checks.
“In my life experience, as young as I am, I really can’t be sold on just interviews. I am sorry,” he said.
Board member Jolinda Schreiber said she learned more in calling a school board chair than in the first hour-long interview. She said she is prejudiced toward the finalist she called on and would like to have site visits to round out her opinions.
“Getting into the community and talking to them will give us one last piece,” Schreiber said.
Leland said he feels the hiring process has been sound, even if it didn’t follow the Minnesota School Boards Association model. He thanked the board and the staff. He said because of background and fitting with the district, he favored Bettino and Funk. He said he sees value in Brown but doesn’t see the value in putting him through the process further. He added he sees the importance in unanimous feelings.
Villarreal said he spoke with the head of the curriculum and with a superintendent under which Brown served and all had good things to say about him. The superintendent called him one of the top five superintendents in the state.
“I want to give all three candidates a shot,” Villarreal said. “We have time. Why not?”
Laurie said she called a reference for Brown who had good things to say and when asked the right question said finance was his weakness at first but is coming along. She said it was the only negative she heard.
Board members then reiterated their stances on whether to do site visits for two candidates or three, with Villarreal and Schreiber for three. Then the motion came.
Villarreal inserted there are many superintendent openings statewide and it is possible one could get “scooped up,” leaving the district with a single finalist.
Marin and Ehrhardt said they would be comfortable if that should happen. Leland said from the beginning he wants to find the right person, even if it means starting over and having to ask Superintendent Dave Prescott, set to retire June 30, to sign an extension. Leland added that in a competitive environment, it’s good to show progress in the hiring process.
An “all in favor” voice vote was taken. Leland, Ehrhardt, Marin and Laurie voted for visiting the districts for Bettino and Funk. Schreiber and Villarreal voted against.
School board members checked their schedules for next week but planned to set travel times. They also agreed to schedule a special workshop to discuss compensation.
Read what representatives from the four community groups said about the finalists in Sunday’s edition. The four groups were elementary staff, secondary staff, administrative staff and the community at-large.