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Board hoping for administrative stability

Abrahamson to be paid $60,000 for one-year contract for part-time superintendent position

Keith Vandervort
Posted 6/30/16

ELY – The Ely School Board met in special session this week to finalize a one-year contract with Kevin Abrahamson as superintendent, and to approve the hiring of Megan Anderson as 6-12 …

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Board hoping for administrative stability

Abrahamson to be paid $60,000 for one-year contract for part-time superintendent position

Posted

ELY – The Ely School Board met in special session this week to finalize a one-year contract with Kevin Abrahamson as superintendent, and to approve the hiring of Megan Anderson as 6-12 principal.

Instability at the administrative level of ISD 696 has been the topic of discussion among parents and the Ely community at large for more than a year as the revolving door of school leadership kept spinning with people coming and going.

Abrahamson was hired last summer as interim superintendent following the ouster of Alexis Leitgeb, who resigned amid allegations of fraud. This spring, School Board members opened the position to applicants and Abrahamson was one of just two candidates to be interviewed for the permanent, part-time position. Abrahamson is the eighth superintendent in the district in a dozen years.

Abrahamson’s contract runs July , 2016, to June 30, 2017. “This is just a one–year contract at Kevin’s request,” said Board Chair Ray Marsnik.

The contract calls for a salary of $60,000 for at least 144 days on duty through the year. The superintendent will be provided health and hospitalization insurance coverage under the School District’s group health plan at the expense of the School District. Abrahamson will also receive post-employment health insurance coverage at the completion of the contract for a period of time equal to his years of service, including his year as interim superintendent, at the School District’s expense.

The contract does not include earned vacation, earned sick leave, or paid holidays.

School Board members unanimously agreed to hire Megan Anderson as the 6-12 principal under the terms and conditions of the 2016-2018 master agreement between the Ely Principals’ Association and ISD 696. Contract negotiations are continuing. Abrahamson said he expects to present a contract to the board for approval at their regular meeting on July 11.

Out of 19 applicants, Anderson was the only candidate interviewed for the position.

Anderson, who graduated from Ely High School, was promoted from her middle school teaching position in the district this spring after the abrupt resignation of Principal Mary McGrane in March. McGrane cited personal reasons in making her decision to leave before the end of the school year.

That position has also experienced an unusual amount of turnover in recent years. Comments from parents at a School Board meeting this spring, and the presentation of a petition signed by students calling for an end to the turnover, prompted Marsnik to answer the complaints, pointing to staff leaving the district to take other positions, retirements and promotions, as reasons for the administrative turnover.

As part of a study session discussion Monday night, Abrahamson updated the board on the open business manager position.

There are three candidates for the open position, created by the resignation of Marie Rinta this spring. Two candidates hold similar financial management positions in nearby school districts.

Abrahamson is waiting to hear on cost proposals to the district, but said he is leaning toward the candidate who could work for ISD 696 as an independent contractor.

The position calls for about 16 hours of work each week with at least eight hours of on-site work, according to Abrahamson.

He said he expects to have a hiring recommendation for the board to consider at their July 11 regular meeting.