Worthington board approves superintendent’s first‑year evaluation goals and a feedback form

The Worthington School Board approved Superintendent Joel Heitkamp’s proposed evaluation goals and selected the Minnesota School Boards Association sample evaluation form 2 for use in the year‑long review process. Heitkamp presented three goal areas: establishing foundational relationships with stakeholders, enhancing district culture and safety, and reviewing financial health and resource allocation. He asked the board to use sample form 2 because it allows rubric scoring plus space for specific written feedback; trustees voted to adopt the form and the goals with the addition of a metric to bring in assistance for a special‑education review and analysis. Why it matters: the approved goals establish the measures by which the superintendent will be evaluated this year, and the board approved a feedback process intended to combine qualitative comments with a 4‑3‑2‑1 rubric. Timeline and process: Heitkamp said his contract calls for a 90‑day evaluation; he asked the board to set a date for a midyear evaluation and a summative year‑end evaluation. The board approved the goals and the use of sample form 2 at the meeting and agreed to remove sample form 1 from consideration. No contentious debate: board members expressed support for the collaborative process Heitkamp described; one trustee asked for the special‑education review metric to be added to show progress on resource management and to credit work already started. The board approved the motion with a standard voice vote.