Eden Valley‑Watkins board adopts 2025–26 school calendar, reviews superintendent search timeline

The Eden Valley‑Watkins School Board adopted the 2025–26 school calendar and reviewed materials for the superintendent search during its Jan. 22, 2025, work session at the district office. The calendar was approved on a motion by Board Member Christina DeRose, seconded by Board Member Nathan Haag; the motion carried unanimously.

Board members reviewed the packet of documents intended to guide hiring: confidentiality and private‑data protocols, interview planning (page references in the packet), a "Don't Ask" list for interviews, a page on common mistakes to avoid during hiring, and guidance about deliberating in public. Superintendent Mark Messman also presented a search timeline included in the packet: a special virtual session scheduled for Jan. 29, a first‑round interview date on Feb. 1, and a draft schedule for finalists on Feb. 5.

Messman updated the board on January 2025 enrollment and projections; the minutes record that enrollment figures and projections were presented to the board but do not itemize enrollment counts in the published minutes. Messman also noted Paraprofessional Recognition week (Jan. 20–26, 2025) and referenced attached search materials for board review.

The board flagged superintendent search procedures for continued work and scheduled follow‑up steps; agenda items for the next meeting include more detailed enrollment projections, revised budget calculations, capital and LTFM budget reviews, consideration of the superintendent contract, and an EVW Childcare update. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.