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USC chooses 4 to interview

Candidate interviews to be held on Jan. 10

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Jan 8, 2023

In addition to all of the regular business the United South Central School District had to conduct at their meeting on Thursday evening, Jan. 5, the board also welcomed three new members who were elected last November. The new School Board members, pictured above, left to right, are Katie Hanson, Brittany Voigt and Diana Brooks. One of the first tasks they will undertake is the selection of a new superintendent.

The list of candidates to be interviewed for the superintendent position of the United South Centra School District has been reduced to four, including two who are or have previously been employed by the district.

The new superintendent will replace current superintendent Keith Fleming, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

Speaking at a special USC School Board meeting on Thursday night, Jan. 5, Harold Remme of the South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) told board members seven candidates had originally applied for the position during the filing period which began on Dec. 1, 2022 and ended Dec. 31.

“There were four men and three women to begin with,” Remme said. “Two of those had superintendent experience. One person did not apply until Dec. 31. One candidate withdrew their name this week and there was another one who did not have the proper licensure. So, the list was reduced to five candidates.”

Remme then presented the board with a list of four candidates SCSC felt were the top applicants. The list contained biographies on each candidate but did not include their name.

The board passed a motion approving the list and at that time the names of the candidates to be interviewed were revealed.

The candidates are Robert Routh, Taylor Topinka, Michelle Mortensen and Heidi Venem.

Routh, Topinka and Mortensen currently have superintendent licensure and Venem is submitting a request for superintendent licensure.

Routh is currently on staff at USC where he teaches 11th and 12th grade English. He has experience as a Dean of Students/activities director and as a high school and elementary media specialist.

Topinka is currently the principal for grades 7-12 at Granada-Huntley-East Chain and is a secondary social studies teacher. He has taught psychology at the college level and is trained in professional crisis management and crisis prevention. He has also coached golf and football.

Mortensen is currently the superintendent at Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart. She has experience as a superintendent at two rural school districts and has also been an elementary teacher. She was the recipient of the 2019 MASA (Minnesota Association of School Administrators) Richard Green Award which honors scholarly work and professional development of Minnesota school leaders. She also has experience with strategic planning and professional learning communities.

Venem is the director of Special Education and Student Services at Mason City Schools. She has experience as an administrator in the Austin School District, has taught at Albert Lea and was a special education teacher at USC. She has licenses in specific learning disabilities, emotional behavioral disabilities and as a K-12 principal.

The candidates will be interviewed by the School Board and a community committee on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 10.

“The goal next week will be to select two finalists,” Remme said. “Then the plan would be to interview one finalist on Jan. 18 and the other one on Jan. 19.”

In other business at the meeting, newly-elected board members Katie Hanson, Brittany Voigt and Diana Brooks were administered the oath of office.

Mike Schrader was elected as board chairman and Brad Heggen was elected to be the vice chairman. Chris Lutteke will serve at the treasurer and Brooks was chosen to be the clerk.