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Mason Intermediate interim principal named; transportation director announces retirement
Summary
The board approved Diana Todd as interim Mason Intermediate principal next school year. The superintendent also announced the retirement of long-time district leader Mark Merzenowski, effective Jan. 1, 2026; the district is searching for a new transportation director.
The Mason City Schools board on Tuesday approved the superintendent’s recommendation to appoint Diana Todd as interim principal of Mason Intermediate for the coming school year.
Diana Todd took the podium after the vote and introduced family members who attended. “I am honored to serve the staff, the students, and the family in this new role,” she told the board. Todd said she began her career at Mason Intermediate and pledged to bring “full momentum” and collaborative leadership to the building.
Superintendent Dr. Cooper described Todd as a “homegrown talent” and said the board and district leadership had received positive feedback from staff and community members ahead of the appointment. Board members praised Todd’s service to the district and thanked her family for their support.
Retirement and search: During the personnel discussion Dr. Cooper also announced that Mark Merzenowski — who has led the district’s transportation department after a career that included middle-school assistant-principal duties — has submitted his retirement notice, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The administration told the board it has begun a search and interview process for a successor.
The superintendent said Merzenowski transformed the transportation operation, improved staff retention and built a culture of strong service in a complex operation that handles dozens of bus routes. The board asked the district to continue outreach as the search proceeds.
What was voted: The board approved the personnel recommendations by unanimous roll-call vote. The personnel packet included multiple hires, retirements and wellness-dollar expenditures; the interim principal appointment and the retirement date were recorded in the personnel list.
Next steps: Human Resources will complete onboarding for the interim principal and continue the open search for the transportation director. The board expects updates as candidates are interviewed and finalists are identified.
