Lac qui Parle Valley Schools board finalizes interview logistics and privacy rules for superintendent search

The Lac qui Parle Valley Schools Board met to finalize plans for the superintendent search and interview process, confirming interview logistics, confidentiality rules and how the board will gather feedback from staff and students.

The meeting opened with a roll call and approval of the agenda. The board’s facilitator reviewed actions taken April 16 and reiterated that the board previously approved interviewing no more than five candidates, preferring four. The facilitator said the board had also approved offering tours of the district’s three buildings to candidates.

Why it matters: The board set detailed procedures that affect who sees candidate materials, how the interviews will be conducted and how input from staff and students will be collected and retained as public record.

Board facilitator (Presenter) walked members through the MSBA process and the online portal the board will use to view applications. The facilitator said board members would receive access via the Revelus portal and that MSBA will initially label candidates (A, B, C) when recommending a short list; the board retains discretion to add other names. “It’s so important that you look through that data privacy stuff,” the presenter said, urging members to review packet pages that list prohibited lines of questioning (examples given: marital status, age, family situation or whether an applicant will move into the district).

The board confirmed the interview day structure: 65 minutes for board questions, 10 minutes for the candidate’s questions, and a 15-minute break between interviews. The facilitator emphasized equal treatment among candidates, saying the board must not give one candidate extra time over another.

The board also approved a structured feedback system for representatives who sit in on interviews. The facilitator described that staff and selected representatives — including two student representatives (one from grades 11–12 and one from grades 9–10) — will submit three-part feedback (two or three strengths, two or three areas for growth, and general comments) via a device that populates a Google Doc; hard copies will be collected for board deliberation. The facilitator thanked staff who set the system up and noted the feedback will be public record.

A board member, Danny (board member), asked whether criminal background checks should be completed before interviews. Danny said: “Wouldn’t it make more sense to do criminal background checks prior to interviewing them?” The facilitator replied that privacy rules and practice limit full background-check access before an offer and that state-required background checks must be completed prior to extending a mutual agreement; the facilitator added that the board can perform administrative vetting and local inquiries in advance but that formal background checks can take weeks to return.

Other logistics confirmed: interviews are scheduled on May 15 (with a posted backup date the following day), the interviews will not be livestreamed, and the board will hold a meeting two days earlier (the thirteenth) to finalize question assignments and themes. The facilitator noted any contract offer would be contingent on successful background checks and would follow negotiation procedures using an MSBA sample contract that incorporates recent state-law changes (examples cited: sick-leave and ESST time).

The meeting concluded with reminders that interview notes and the Google Doc feedback are public records and will be collected. The board moved to adjourn and the meeting ended.

What’s next: The board will meet on the thirteenth to finalize interview questions and assignments and will convene after interviews to deliberate and, if appropriate, extend an offer subject to contract negotiation and a completed background check.