Both candidates interviewed for half-time interim B-OPS superintendent position to return for second round of questions
Both candidates interviewed by Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) School Board members for the half-time interim superintendent post in the district will return for second interviews, following deliberations by the board at a Thursday evening, August 11 special meeting.
Allen “Al” Stoeckman and Raymond “Ray” Arsenault were both questioned earlier in the meeting. The same 19 interview questions were asked of each candidate.
The pair of candidates in the school’s superintendent search were initially presented to the school board by Sandy Gundlach, Director of School Board Services for the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) during a special meeting held on Thursday, August 4. The B-OPS School Board has retained the services of the MSBA for the search for an interim superintendent. These services are being provided pro bono for the school district. At that meeting, Gundlach noted that seven individuals had initiated the application process, with three candidates completing and submitting applications for the post.
B-OPS School Board members selected Stoeckman and Arsenault for the first round of interviews at the August 4 meeting after studying submitted resumés.
Stoeckman most recently was interim superintendent in the Menahga School District for grades PreK-12, beginning that post last October. Prior to that, he was the superintendent at Yellow Medicine East in Granite Falls.
Arsenault last served as the first Executive Director for Rochester Beacon Academy Charter School, which opened in the Congregational Church United Church of Christ last fall and serves grades 6-12. Previously, he served as director of East Range Academy in Eveleth for five years and before that, was superintendent of Gallup McKinley Country Schools in Gallup, New Mexico.
The second round of interview questions will be conducted this Monday, August 15, during a special meeting beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Media Center, preceding the school board’s regular monthly meeting. In this second round, the 10 interview questions will be more specific. B-OPS School Board Chair Joel Penner will also present information he has gathered on reference checks on the two candidates. All meetings are open the public.
Stoeckman and Arsenault will also be provided with school and community tours led by B-OPS K-12 Principal Barry Schmidt and B-OPS Head Custodian Doug Meyers.
Additionally on the agenda for the special meeting will be the selection of the interim superintendent following discussion on the interviews and reference checks. Once the selection is made, the employment contract parameters and negotiations will begin. As well, discussion will be held on deciding and scheduling the steps necessary for the rest of the hiring process.
The regular monthly board meeting will begin at 7 p.m. that evening.
The remaining superintendent search timeline includes:
+ August 22 (special board meeting – target date) – Board approves the employee contract.
+ September 1 (or as soon as possible) – Half-time Interim Superintendent reports to work.
