Full story: Clarke selected as Intermediate School principal

WORTHINGTON — District 518 Director of Teaching & Learning Katie Clarke will serve as the principal of the new Intermediate School when it opens next fall.

The school board voted to hire her after discussing its options in closed session as part of Tuesday's regular board meeting.

Previously, the board had directed Superintendent John Landgaard to begin interviewing interested candidates internally before opening the position to the general public. He spoke with five applicants and was ready to bring the board his recommendation Tuesday.

The board, though, was hesitant to hear his suggestion right away. Board members Mike Harberts and Adam Blume said based on some community hearsay, they had questions about the candidates that they'd like to explore privately. Board member Brad Shaffer noted that they had to choose someone who manages people well.

Landgaard reminded the board members that they didn't actually know who the candidates were, and any whispers they'd heard in the community were just gossip. He said he didn't feel comfortable publicly stating his recommendation just to have the board vote that person down.

Board member Steve Schnieder pointed out that Landgaard is aware that the board wants to hire a good manager.

"He knows these people as well as anybody," Schieder said, asking the board to trust Landgaard's recommendation and vote on approving the principal before hearing the candidate's name.

The other board members didn't go for that. Shaffer said he didn't feel comfortable giving Landgaard sole hiring authority, and that while he could probably support whoever Landgaard recommended, he would rather it be an open vote.

Some suggested that the recommendation be tabled until next month, giving them time to discuss the candidates one-on-one. However, board member Joel Lorenz noted that it's already June, and whoever the principal would be already has work to do. The candidate options would still be the same in a month, so it didn't make sense to wait.

Finally, at the suggestion of board member Tom Prins, the board decided to go into closed session to discuss Landgaard's recommendation, then return to an open meeting for the vote. They were in closed session for about half an hour Tuesday and voted 6-1 to hire Clarke, with Harberts opposed.

At the beginning of Tuesday's meeting, a parent of a child who was recently involved in an altercation at the middle school addressed the board. She explained some frustrations she experienced with administrators as she and her child tried to navigate the situation, and asked the board to reconsider its policies for handling fights.

"First and foremost, we want to make sure the middle school is as safe as it can be," board chair Lori Dudley told the mother. She thanked her for bringing this issue to the board's attention.

Landgaard said he believed the mother raised some good points that merit consideration.

One of the concerns raised was how kids treat each other on social media, and what role the school district should have in teaching good internet behavior. Dudley told the board she thought this question was worth exploring.

"I think it's the parents who need social media education," said Landgaard, pointing out that there's a tendency among parents to hear one side of a story and spread gossip as if it's factual information.

Dudley agreed that parents need to get their information about what goes on at school from the school district, not from social media.

Shaffer added that there also seems to be a misunderstanding of the role of school board members. They only have authority collectively, not as individuals, so if a parent calls a school board member about something that happened at school, all the school board member can do is refer the parent to administrators at that school.

Landgaard said the district needs to define the problem, then make a plan to solve it.

"I know there are concerns, but I don't have a clear picture of what the problem is," he said, while also crediting the mother who spoke up with helping to define the issue.

The board agreed to revisit policies in several areas to try to avoid situations like the one brought up at the meeting.

The district's contract with Bud's Bus Service is up in July, so the board considered transportation quotes Tuesday. They had two options: Bud's, and Metropolitan Transportation Network out of Fridley.

The Bud's quote was about $325,000 higher over the course of four years, but the board is interested in continuing to work with Bud's.

"I would really struggle with switching again," Shaffer said, noting that Bud's has served the district well and provided quality service over the last eight years.

"They're good people. They're a good business," Schnieder agreed, but asked if Bud's would be open to negotiating a lower price.

"They're going to share this increase with the drivers," Harberts said.

Others pointed out that if they have already decided to hire Bud's, then the board doesn't have much negotiating power over the price. Ultimately, they voted 5-2 to ask Bud's for a lower quote, with Prins and Harberts opposed.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, the board:

• Rescinded a previously approved salary and benefit increase for the community education director of 6.42% over two years, and approved a new increase of 4.19% over two years.
• Approved the preliminary 2021-2022 budget.
• Approved writing off $3,800 in school lunch debt.
• Approved hiring John Powers to do an enrollment study for $2,500.
• Approved using ESSER funds to hire a technology project manager, a software specialist, a cyber security expert (on a contractual basis), an additional accountant, a director of instruction (to begin July 2022) and an additional human resources employee.
• Approved the formation of an Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee, as required by the U.S. Department of Education.