Members hold emergency meeting to hire Tom Ames; Day Care to be open Monday
The Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) School Board held an emergency meeting in the school’s Media Center on Saturday morning, January 23, to hire an acting superintendent for the week ahead.
According to Board Chair Joel Penner, the state was contacted following board action placing B-OPS Superintendent Lisa Shellum on administrative leave during their regular meeting on Thursday evening, January 21, informing the Minnesota Department of Education there was no superintendent as administrator in the district. (For more on the January 21 board meeting, see: http://www.cross-countiesconnect.com/2016/01/b-ops-superintendent-lisa-shellum-placed-on-paid-administrative-leave/)
The Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) contacted Penner that a superintendent needed to be in place, and presented a name as a potential acting superintendent. The board chair called the emergency meeting in order to hire an acting superintendent and meet the specs set by the state.
At the meeting, Penner announced that the initial candidate could not take the position, but that the MSBA had contacted him with another possible acting superintendent.
In a unanimous vote of board members at the meeting (Penner, Board Vice-Chair Leon Wenner, Board Treasurer Andy Pierson, Board Clerk Tammy Wolle, Board Director Diane Peterson and Board Director Kristy Haseman; Board Director Renae Meyer was absent), Tom Ames was hired as acting superintendent for the next week at a salary of $500 per day. Ames, of Rochester, is also a part-time superintendent at Madelia Public School and Parkers Prairie Public School. Penner stated that Ames had shared with him that he was willing to come on board as a “good neighbor.” There is the possibility that his position with the school district could be extended. He will be in the superintendent’s office on Monday.
In addition, Penner noted that Leon Wenner had placed the family-based Day Care, located in the school in his name. It had previously been under Shellum’s name. Because of this move, the Day Care will be open on Monday, January 25.
The school board will hold a special board meeting on Thursday, January 28, at 6:30 p.m., in the Media Center. On the agenda will be Day Care issues and superintendent needs, including taking action to retain an acting superintendent from now until the end of the school year – including parameters outlining the terms and conditions of employment.
