Board approves assistant principal and adds social‑studies position to cover new state requirements

The Cannon Falls School Board approved two staffing additions for the 2026–27 school year: a licensed assistant principal and a middle/high‑school social‑studies position.

Administration presented options: a dean of students (teacher-on-special-assignment) or a licensed assistant principal. The dean would be tied to teacher-contract days (roughly 184 days) and could handle attendance and some discipline but would not have the same authority or summer availability as an assistant principal. The assistant principal carries a broader administrative license, can conduct teacher observations and be a district representative at IEP meetings, and typically works a longer contract year (212 days). Administration estimated the cost difference at roughly $20,000–$42,000 depending on the day-count and licensing assumptions.

The social‑studies position was recommended to meet new state-required offerings: beginning next year, sophomores must take a personal-finance course and districts may need to offer an ethnic-studies course depending on student requests. Administration said adding the social‑studies hire would allow the district to restore the innovation lab facilitator role and cover up to four social‑studies sections if required.

Trustees discussed supervisory burdens, observation requirements and the value of restoring the innovation lab. The board voted to approve the assistant principal hire (rather than a dean) and to add the social‑studies position; both motions passed by voice vote.

Next steps: administration will post job descriptions, begin hiring, and return to the board with employment contracts and specifics once finalists are identified.