Barnum to share superintendent

The Barnum school board took unprecedented action to hire Bill Peel as a half-time shared superintendent during a special meeting on Thursday, March 31. Peel is also superintendent of the Willow River school district.

“The opportunity presented itself to change to a half-time superintendent,” board chair Jessica Unkelhaeuser explained. “With that opportunity, we’ll be looking at a full-time high school principal and a full-time elementary principal.”

The board passed a motion to change the original proposal of hiring a full-time superintendent and one K-12 principal to a shared half-time superintendent and one full-time high school principal and one full-time elementary principal.

The board then approved hiring Peel as a half-time shared superintendent, effective July 1, 2022, contingent upon approval of a contract for services and/or a joint powers agreement with the Willow River school district.

Unkelhaeuser explained that she had spoken with Gary Lee of the Minnesota School Board Association and Dave Prachar, chair of the Willow River school board, about the shared superintendent position. Lee had said that a joint powers agreement had never been implemented before in the State of Minnesota.

“The MSBA is totally on board for doing that and is actually excited about doing that,” said Unkelhaeuser. “But in looking at the time frame, it would be a contract to purchase those half-time superintendent services until we can get a joint powers agreement in place. We could start the position as a shared position and transition to a joint powers agreement.’

Unkelhaeuser also explained that, in looking at the candidates for the position, this candidate was the best available. And that person was also favored in the feedback from the community, she added.

The board then turned to filling the full-time high school principal position.

A motion to promote interim high school principal Jodi Fanth to a full-time permanent position passed by a 3-1 vote of board members present.

During discussion before the vote, board member Paul Coughlin objected, explaining that he felt that the process should have been conducted in the usual way where other candidates were interviewed and the position offered to the best candidate.

“Just because we have someone that can do the job is a mistake. Jodi has done a good job. I have no qualms about her work.”

“I am concerned about taking something that is this important, a leadership position, and just giving it to her because she qualifies,” he continued. “That doesn’t make that process right.”

Unkelhaeuser said she checked with Lee from the MSBA, who stated that Fanth has been in this position as interim high school principal. Mr. Campbell, the former permanent high school principal, has resigned, therefore there is no legal reason to prevent the promotion.

She added that she has not heard any concerns. She has spoken with other staff. They did not have any concerns about Fanth not being able to fulfill the role.

Board member Beth Dinger agreed with Coughlin about the process.

“If she is the best one, she will rise to the top,” she said. “I think that she has been excellent and has built a rapport with staff. Given the support that Jodi has earned, that’s my waiver.”

After asking a few more questions about Fanth’s contract, which will be negotiated at a later date, Dinger voted yes to promote Fanth, along with Unkelhaeuser and Steph Ferrin, and the motion passed.

The next meeting of the Barnum school board will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, in the high school auditorium.