The Crookston School Board wrapped up interviews with the four finalists for Superintendent after two finalists dropped out. Todd Selk and Jeremy Tammi withdrew from consideration for the job, so the school board interviewed Tara Lere, Jason Stanoch, Brad Johnson, and Tim Godfrey. The board interviewed two candidates on Tuesday and two more on Wednesday. “They went very well,” said Crookston School Board Chair Tim Dufault. “Different people, different backgrounds, different experiences. You know, they all had the fire in the belly for education. So that was great to see.”
The board narrowed down the search to Jason Stanoch, and Brad Johnson. “Jason Stanoch, is a principal at Bemidji. He has been there for a few years now. He also had worked in Missouri for several years in different schools and smaller, rural school districts down there. Also worked at the Red Lake School District for a short time. Now he’s looking to become superintendent. This would be his first job, and he looks like he’s definitely ready,” said Dufault. “Brad Johnson is currently the superintendent of Renville County, which has three different communities in it. A real community guy. He grew up in Crookston. He graduated from Crookston Central High School. He’s looking to make his way back up here and still has family up here, and he would love to have the opportunity.”
Stanoch and Johnson will be interviewed again on Friday, February 13.” So we’ll have them back in Friday, four o’clock. We’re trying to set up some tours with them first, bring them around the different buildings, and let them see the schools and what they offer. We’ll also have five stakeholder groups represented, in addition to the board. We’ll have some teachers, a representative from the paraprofessionals, administration, the parent-teacher organization, and a student rep. So after both of those interviews, they work with MSBA to enter their thoughts electronically, and then they collect them. After a few minutes, they’ll give it back to us, so it’ll be anonymous. And then we’ll get to see what those groups had to think about both candidates,” said Dufault. “And then it becomes time for us to talk amongst the board, but in the open, and discuss. The strengths and weaknesses of both candidates. Hopefully, we can come to a consensus on one. It might take a little while, as they are both strong candidates. But hopefully we can come to a consensus on Friday night and make an offer and have a superintendent by the end of the day.”
There will be a special board meeting scheduled for 3:55 p.m. on Friday at the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room. The meeting agenda is below –
3:55 pm Call School Board Meeting to Order
2.1 Prepare for Interviews
2.2 Interview Candidates for Superintendent Position
4:00 pm* First interview
5:15 pm* Second interview
6:15 pm* Board Break
6:45 pm* School Board deliberates and decides on a candidate to offer the position
*Times are approximate. The interviews are open to the public.
2.3 Discuss information from the interviews, reference checks, and community/staff questions sessions. Identify the lone finalist and take School Board action
2.4 Discuss and decide employment contract parameters and negotiation process
2.5 Discuss, decide, and schedule the steps necessary for the rest of the hiring process
