By Jolene Farley
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members began the process of hiring a new superintendent at their Monday night board meeting.
Superintendent Tom Knoll notified each board member by letter prior to the meeting of his intention to resign. Knoll accepted a position in the Hayfield school district, located about 25 miles southwest of Rochester.
Knoll advised the board to not hurry in their search for his replacement. "You don't want to pressure yourself in that selection," he said.
Knoll suggested a deadline of Jan. 1, 2002, would give the board a reasonable amount of time to select a candidate.
The timeline could, however, limit applicants because some would not leave their current districts in the middle of a school year.
Knoll also encouraged board members to attend an in-service on superintendent hiring because only two of the current members have been involved in the hiring process before.
The board discussed the possibility of combining the superintendent, elementary and high school principal positions but questioned if such a combination would be too much responsibility for one person.
"You don't want to make a slate so long everyone will run from it," said board member Ann Boeve.
Dean of Students Steve Wiertzema could handle the "day to day stuff" in the high school, according to Knoll.
Board member Gary Esselink made a motion to search for a superintendent with elementary licensing and a district administrator (similar to Wiertzema's position in the high school) for the elementary school to replace Elementary Principal Kim Grengs, who recently resigned. These positions will be filled by different individuals.
The board currently has 12 applicants to replace Grengs and will begin advertising for the superintendent position.
Knoll stated several applicants were not licensed for elementary principal but could complete the steps necessary to obtain a license in the future. Only one applicant was from within the district.
In other board business:
oThe district has received only one application for the vocal and instrumental instructor position vacated by Dawn Griepp. "So that is just a wait and see thing," said board chair Roland Crawford.
oThe 2001/2002 budget was adopted unanimously by the board. The budget banks on more than $2.7 million in revenue, dependent on the state aid currently being debated by the Minnesota State Legislature. Certified staff salaries account for $18,000 less in the 2001/2002 budget because of a retirement. The district currently has $1.4 million in the bank, according to Knoll.
oThe board moved the next board meeting from Monday, July 9, to Monday, July 16.