Albert Lea board to interview internal and external interim candidates; hires MSBA to run superintendent search

The Albert Lea Public School District school board voted during a special meeting to consider both internal and external candidates for an interim superintendent and to retain the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to coordinate a full superintendent search.

Board members said the interim appointment is intended to provide immediate stability for students and staff while the district begins a formal search for a permanent superintendent. The board voted unanimously, 7-0, to allow the district to “entertain all viable candidates both internally and externally” for the interim role. Later, the board approved a separate motion to post an opening for superintendent and hire MSBA to coordinate the search; that motion passed on a roll call vote of five ayes, one abstention and one nay.

Board members described two linked steps: a short-term interim hire to steady operations and a longer superintendent search. Director Scorer said the district already faces enough uncertainty and argued against internal promotion if it would create additional vacancies to backfill. "We are already in the midst of enough confusion. I think to add to that confusion would be to move somebody internally into the position of superintendent," Scorer said, arguing for an interim with prior experience in similar situations. Vice Chair Schindler said the interim should avoid disruptive personnel moves, recounting a teacher’s plea: “don’t start moving the principals around.”

The board discussed timing and process. Members said MSBA staff advised a search timeline that would begin in mid- to late January and could result in a hire in April. The board heard that a typical interim contract is about six months and that MSBA conducts roughly 85% of superintendent searches in Minnesota; someone on the board recalled the MSBA search fee from a prior hiring at about $25,000. The board also discussed an informal interim selection process in which MSBA could supply a list of potential interims and board members would contact candidates individually to arrange interviews.

Board members agreed the interim selection process could be informal rather than a full application cycle: MSBA’s executive-search contact, Barb Dorn, would provide candidates the board could invite to interview. The board chair said members should share recommended names and that staff (Darcy) would coordinate interview scheduling; Ashley was identified as a staff contact for working with MSBA on interview questions and logistics. One director—identified in the meeting as a regional director of MSBA—said they would abstain from the vote on contracting MSBA.

Directives and next steps the board recorded during the meeting included asking MSBA for a candidate list, inviting board members to submit names they recommend, and scheduling interviews (which may require an emergency or special meeting to accommodate candidate availability). Several board members urged a faster timeline for internal candidates to notify interest, with one suggestion that internal statements of interest be submitted by the end of the week (deadline discussed informally as “by the end of the day Friday,” with an uncertain calendar date).

Votes at a glance: - Motion to entertain all viable internal and external candidates for interim superintendent: passed 7–0. - Motion to post an opening for superintendent no later than late January 2025 and to hire MSBA to coordinate the search: passed 5–1–1 (five ayes, one abstention, one nay).

The board emphasized community and staff input for the full search, describing plans for forums and stakeholder engagement during a January–April search window. Board members also noted the option to solicit proposals from other search firms or to conduct a search internally, though several said the district’s capacity favors using an outside firm (MSBA or another vendor).