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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Board seeks contract with Abrahamson

To be offered permanent superintendent post

Keith Vandervort
Posted 5/4/16

ELY – Ely School Board members are prepared to offer Kevin Abrahamson the permanent position as the school district’s top administrator following interviews this week.

Abrahamson has served as …

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Board seeks contract with Abrahamson

To be offered permanent superintendent post

Posted

ELY – Ely School Board members are prepared to offer Kevin Abrahamson the permanent position as the school district’s top administrator following interviews this week.

Abrahamson has served as the interim part-time superintendent at ISD 696 since last August. He was one of five candidates who applied for the permanent position this spring.

At a study session last week, School Board members identified three finalists to be interviewed. Eric Gustafson, a former school administrator who lives in Montana, made the trip to Ely for an interview Monday night. Another finalist, David Pace, the current superintendent for the East Grand Forks School District, declined the Ely interview offer late last week.

Following the nearly three-hour interview session, School Board members all agreed that they were satisfied with Abrahamson’s performance this past school year and are set to negotiate a contract to keep him on the job in a permanent capacity. He is currently paid $4,500 to work 24 hours per week.

Gustafson said he was raised in Montana and grew up on a farm, earned an education degree from Western Montana College, and held various teaching positions. He returned to school and obtained a master’s degree in school administration and held various principal positions before receiving a school superintendent’s endorsement from the University of Montana. He said he continued to serve in principal and superintendent positions, all in Montana.

His Minnesota attraction started in his youth when he was sent to summer camp in Brainerd and grew to love canoeing. “As a young boy, I had quite an affinity for Minnesota,” he said. “My brother moved to Minnesota about 12 years ago and that really irritated me.” He has been a visitor to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness since the 1990s.

“Every time we come here, the people are so cordial and friendly,” Gustafson said. “It seems to have that warm feeling. I was really pleased to have the opportunity to interview for the position.”

He talked about his communication, skills, leadership style, student motivation techniques, collaboration, budget management experience, and long-range planning ideas in a school leadership position.

In terms of his priorities as a superintendent for ISD 696, Gustafson said, “My first priority would be to find out about the inner workings of the school. He added, “Everybody I have talked to speaks very highly of this school. That’s very refreshing.” Secondly, he said he would start to form relationships with the school board, faculty and staff. He also indicated his desire to make the superintendent job in Ely a long-term commitment.

Following the school board’s queries, he asked board members to describe the kids in the school, their perspective on the teachers in the district, the plans for the JFK building site, and the opportunities for his wife to pursue her love of quilting.

Abrahamson was asked the same 18 questions by the board, and in many instances repeated or expounded on his answers from his interview last summer for the superintendent’s position.

His experience includes 17 years teaching English and speech. He relocated closer to home and was held various administrative positions for 15 years in ISD 2142. He worked in the Duluth School District and Virginia in curriculum coordination, before retiring early last year. He then accepted the interim part-time superintendent position in Ely.

“I know quite a bit, not everything, but I know much more (about Ely) than I did eight months ago about the district, board and staff,” Abrahamson said. “I like my job most days,” he said about his position. “I don’t know when I have ever worked with nicer kids, more personable, outgoing and friendly, and genuinely nice kids to be around.” He said the same thing about the school staff. “They make coming to work worthwhile,” he said.

When asked about his priorities for the Ely School District, he was quick to answer, “Strategic and long-term planning, expanded educational opportunities, and financial stability for the district.”

Board discussion

Following the interview sessions, School Board members discussed their impressions of the two candidates.

“I am inclined to offer the position to Kevin,” Scott Kellerman said. “I think Eric was a good interviewer and he has the qualifications, but when I look at his resume, he has not stayed in a particular place very long.”

Rochelle Sjoberg agreed, indicating the board’s desire to have stability at the top of the administrative team. She said that Gustafson had good answers, but “they didn’t apply to the questions we were asking.” She said she appreciated the posting and interview process for the position. “I have to give credit to the fact that Kevin has done a very good job. He came in and did a lot of fixing.”

James Pointer noted that Gustafson indicated a desire to take a long-term position. “But my lean is that he had many nice things to say, but he really didn’t answer a lot of the questions,” he said.

Paul Pengal said he was impressed with Gustafson’s enthusiasm for children and some of his past approaches to leadership. “But I really have enjoyed Kevin’s management style since he’s been here and how he handles himself and the matters that have come before him. I’m very pleased with him.”

Kathy Udovich also indicated she is happy with Abrahamson’s job in the last year. “I liked Eric’s approach and his ideas, but my opinion has not changed,” she said.

Board chair Ray Marsnik agreed with the board’s impressions. “I think Kevin had a big advantage here because we had the opportunity to observe him over the last nine months. To see him in action has been so important,” he said.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who have worked directly with Kevin this past year, and everyone I’ve talked to has been very positive with his performance,” Marsnik said. “That plays a very important part in my decision.”

The School Board will formally vote on filling the superintendent position at their regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 9, and will form a committee to negotiate a contract with Abrahamson.