By MaryHelen Swanson

The minutes, the hours ticked by and beads of sweat began to shine on the foreheads of Rush City School Board members as they continued work this week on filling the superintendent's position.

The vacancy has been caused by a reassignment of current superintendent James Redfield.

A situation, which the school board has declined to explain, caused the board to remove Redfield from the school facility and assign him work to be completed elsewhere through Sept. 30 of this year.

In the interim, a team of staff and school administrators has been conducting the business of the superintendent.

Now, the school board wants to put someone in the office to take over the responsibilities of running the school district.

Very clearly, the members are leaning toward hiring Jacobson Elementary School Principal Vernon Koepp for that position.

Koepp has been with the district for 26 years, in positions of teaching and administration.

Koepp was one of four finalists last year when the board set out to fill the superintendent's position upon the extended leave of absence and subsequent retirement (in five years) of then superintendent Tim Eklund.

Now, Koepp has strongly indicated a desire to be named superintendent. Repeatedly he assured the hesitant board members Monday night that "it's going to work."

The board reviewed a list of 10 possible expectations of the new superintendent, stressing excellence in all areas of the school district functions.

Missing from the list was assurance that the new superintendent would work to maintain a balance of academics, arts and athletics in the district.

Board member Gwen Goretsas brought this to the board's attention. The board agreed that balance in the three areas was of utmost importance.

They also felt it was important to offer many opportunities to the students and to have the right people working in the district to achieve its goals.

After review of the expectations, Koepp said there was "nothing scary" in what he heard, once again emphasizing that he would be able to get the job done.

The board briefly reviewed a long list of questions that had been asked of candidates last year, Koepp already having responded to them in his interview at that time.

Board chairman Paul Pasche asked how Koepp would handle a "tightening" budget. Koepp said he would rely on district business manager Laureen Frost, and seek help, where needed, from former superintendent Eklund.

Board member John Bosman asked Koepp how he would handle people on the "team" going back to doing what they did before. Once again, a calm Koepp assured the board that "things will come together just fine."

It was when they came to a review of a contract for Koepp that the board got bogged down, primarily in two areas: the issue of a severance pay and salary.

The draft contract presented to the board by Koepp, drawn up very closely to that of Redfield's contract, included a provision that is now only included in principal's contracts in the district. It provides a $25,000 severance payment to any administrator who has served 10 consecutive years in his or her position (administrative) in the RC school district.

Most of the board members were strongly against including severance in the superintendent's package. It was decided, although reluctantly, that Koepp, who has earned the severance pay under the principal contract, could keep it but it would have to be noted in an addendum to the contract and specifically only for Koepp's situation.

The board and Koepp had difficulty coming to consensus on salary. Koepp said he was asking the going pay for administrator's in the area, but had no specific figures to show the board for comparisons.

The board did agree that if Koepp was approved for the position, it would be with a two and a quarter-year contract.

The quarter year would come this year and salary would be prorated for the remaining months, with full contract salary beginning with the next school year.

The board essentially threw out the concept of an interim superintendent position.

Salary figures were discussed ranging from around $90,000 to $100,000. As principal, Koepp is receiving about $80,000.

After a long period of stressful discussion on the salary issue, the board agreed the only way to come to an agreement is to look at salaries for superintendents in like-sized school districts.

In all the discussion, they continually assured Koepp they want to be fair. But the board members also want to be sure that the salary they offer is in line with what others are receiving. As they did not have those numbers, the board closed the special meeting and agreed to continue discussion at the beginning of the April 21 regular board meeting.

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