Albert Lea board invites two finalists back for second-round superintendent interviews; motion passes unanimously

The ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT Board voted 7-0 to invite two candidates, Mandy Fletcher and Steven Heil, back for second-round superintendent interviews, the board announced after a day of initial candidate interviews and deliberations.

The vote to advance the two finalists was formalized when a board member moved to “offer a second interview to Mandy Fletcher and Steven Heil,” a motion seconded by another member and approved unanimously, 7 to 0. The board also approved the meeting agenda earlier in the session by voice vote.

The motion was followed by scheduling details: the board set second-round interviews for Monday evening with 90-minute interview slots and a 15-minute break between candidates, and arranged candidate tours earlier in the day. The board decided not to run national background checks for round two and agreed to provide the public with an opportunity to attend the evening interviews.

Why it matters: The board must choose a new superintendent amid concerns about declining enrollment, budget pressure and the district’s efforts to rebuild trust and transparency. Candidates addressed those priorities in the interviews and the board used initial answers and stakeholder survey results to determine which candidates to bring back.

During the daylong interviews, candidates emphasized relationship building, transparent communication and financial stewardship. Mandy Fletcher described communication and transparency as central to leadership, saying, “Communication is key to that, for being transparent. It's frequent, ongoing, communication using several different methods.” Steven Heil stressed in-person presence with stakeholders: “You have to be present. You can't build a relationship from afar.”

Board members discussed each candidate’s strengths before voting. Several board members said they were impressed by Fletcher’s detailed answers on collaboration and budget recovery, while many praised Heil’s community presence, experience with strategic planning and efforts to turn around district finances in prior roles.

The board chair and MSBA (Minnesota School Boards Association) representative walked members through interview procedure, rating forms and ground rules for candidate interviews. MSBA advised the board to use hard-copy evaluation forms for the first interviews and to wait until later rounds before entering scores electronically, to ensure consistent baseline ratings across candidates.

Operational decisions recorded at the meeting: - Schedule: Second-round interviews set for Monday evening; each candidate will have up to 90 minutes including a 15-minute break between interviews; both candidates will receive the same advance materials and the public will be invited to attend. - Tours: The board arranged candidate campus tours earlier Monday; one candidate requested a morning tour and the board accommodated that request. - Background checks: The board decided not to commission the more extensive national background checks before round two, noting both finalists are known in the Minnesota system.

Board members also reviewed the interview questions they plan to use for the second round and added one additional governance/management boundary question for the finalists to answer. The board’s discussion emphasized a desire to see how finalists would balance governance and operational roles while restoring staff and community trust.

The board will deliberate again after the second-round interviews and determine next steps, which may include a finalist visit, an offer contingent on any remaining checks, or a vote to hire. The board asked staff to publish a short public notice about the selectees and the Monday schedule.

Ending: The board said it would notify candidates and the public with final interview times and details before the weekend, and returned to the scheduled interviews and candidate presentations for the remainder of the meeting.