Candidates interview for interim superintendent position

Shakopee Valley News

Interviewing can be stressful, but having a public interview in a turmoiled district for a position where the last superintendent is under police investigation for misusing district credit cards is a whole other level.

Gary Anger, superintendent of Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools, and Michael Redmond, superintendent of Goodhue Public Schools, did just that Thursday evening. Each had an hour to answer 14 questions from the school board during a special meeting.

Board member and personnel committee chairman Shawn Hallett will make a presentation to the board during its regular Monday meeting, where "a potential resolution for the hiring of an interim superintendent may be presented for board review and approval," according to the meeting agenda.

Gary Anger

Anger emphasized culture during his interview, saying the windows needed to be cleaned so the community can see the good parts of the district. 

"It's exactly what happened when I got into Zumbrota-Mazeppa," Anger said. "It was a district in disarray with a broken culture, with some major leadership errors that had occurred before I got there, with a budget that was basically nil. In a span of two years, all those things had turned around. I'm really proud of that."

Anger also said he was a "huge fan" of the academies model, which the Shakopee School District is implementing in the high school, but that he'd need to ask more questions to figure out what exactly the academies would look like in Shakopee.

"It comes down to the mantra of this school district in being education forward," Anger said. "That's what the academies model is about." 

As far as the budget, being open about the process is essential, Anger said. 

"There are going to be some harsh realities that will come out of the budgeting process this year but we are going to be transparent about that," Anger said. "That information is going to come out to the people that it impacts."

At the end of the interview, Anger asked the board how each member felt about Shakopee's situation. 

Answers ranged from ashamed to hopeful for the future of the district. 

"All there is is opportunity in front of us," Anger said. "All there is is the chance to make things better. I can't tell you what an honor it is to be sitting in front of you but it'd be a greater honor to be your superintendent." 

Anger ended the interview by complimenting Redmond.

"No matter what decision is made, there's not one bad thing I could say about Mike," Anger said.

Michael Redmond

A lot of the first few days would be learning about Shakopee, Redmond said. 

"I need to listen and learn," Redmond said. "There is no Redmond plan. I don't have all the answers and I don't know all the questions yet. I need to talk to a lot of people."

Redmond said there is still a lot to learn about the academies, but that he is a progressive educator. 

"I'm not going to tell you I'm an expert but I can tell you beginning next Tuesday, I'll learn everything I can so I can provide guidance and support and not be an anchor," Redmond said.

Goodhue developed financial models for budgeting similar to what Shakopee is doing now, Redmond said. 

"I think you need good people," Redmond said. "You need people looking at that and you need redundancy. It's a math equation, not a social science equation."

At the end of his interview, Redmond asked the board what they hope to see in a superintendent. 

Answers mirrored those the board gave when the search for an interim was beginning — a relationship builder, someone who's good with numbers, a healer and competency. 

"One of the things that troubles me is all the focus has been on things having nothing to do with students and I think that's a travesty," Redmond said. "Let's get the focus back where it belongs."

Both candidates would be coming from smaller districts. 

Following the interviews, the school board talked about the candidates and what answers each member liked. 

"My inbox has been, at least the past two days, a happy place to be," Hallett said. "It's been fantastic reading how well-respected and admired they are in their respective circles. 

The board is looking for feedback from community and district staff before making a decision.