001Well, you know, when it's 110 degrees, the airfare is pretty cheap. Sounds awful. Thank you, baby. Yeah, it's been a rough few days. Yeah. Today is Tuesday, June 17, 2025, a special meeting of the board of education in Lake Park Ottoan High School. And we'll call this to order and let's stand for pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Do I have the agenda? So second. Hi. Hi. Sorry. Roll call. Jen here. Susan here. Here I'm here. All right. Old business we have none. New business 3.1 discuss and choose an interim superintendent. All right. We have our notes in front of us from last week. We gave them back to now we
002have them for reference. I know it's funny. Uh [Music] let's start the discussion by maybe going through. Susan, are are you able to mute mute yours on your Oh, yes, I can mute. Okay, perfect. Yeah, this when you want to speak, just jump in. That that helped a lot. Is everyone fine if we go in the same order that we interviewed? Okay, you can hear us. Yep. Give us a big smile if you can hear us. There it is. Great. All right, Dr. Mortonson, anyone want to start out? I really like the fact that she was really good with the budget. Um, I do feel like she was a little maybe unconfident in herself. Um, I guess that's kind of where I was at. I I did like her. I thought her answers were good.
003Um, but I just I I don't know if she's 100% confident in herself. That's kind of where I felt like. I don't know if somebody else feels that way or not. there. She did point out one thing that I I asterisk here. She said, "Set expectations, high standards. Students will rise to the the high expectations." So by setting them, she knows the kids will rise. I mean, that to me was I think is very very important. Um that was one thing I wrote down for her. And I thought there are many positives uh with well just like the open door you know I have an open door policy and um if there's a problem let's talk about it and uh also the if there's conflict the accountability you know let's go forward with both of
004them. So the only thing I you know she she does have smaller school size you know she is from the smaller ones like 200 kids or 100 kids. I'm not saying that's a negative. I'm just saying that's y not as many kids. I think that's kind of where I thought maybe the lacking of the confidence came from is because the we have more kids than what she's used to. Does that make sense? Yeah, because I I I agree with everything you guys are saying. Yeah, absolutely. I agree with everything you guys are saying, too. I like that she was very good at her budget and her this school, this last school and her last pri school. And I like that she was innovative. What was the last part? And she's innovated. Oh, okay. Yeah. Um,
005I guess another note that I had on, you know, deescalating issues. You know, she had made note of bringing people in and talking about it in person. So, I mean, that was something that jumped out at me. But, well, I like that she said she was going to get all the sides of the story first before making any type of decisions and then trying to have them work together. That that I did like too. Anything else? And I guess the only other thing on the financial side, she did have she stated a couple examples were they were down 200,000 going into uh her position and two years later they were up 300. So she had a $500,000 turnaround with her financial um savviness I guess you might call it. So So I mean that that's
006a positive. I don't have a whole lot more to add that you guys haven't already said. I mean, she did talk about the budget a lot, which was really nice. I think we all know how important that is. Um, and she talked about I mean, I have a few notes here that she just mentioned more than once that she at the end of the day she tries to do what's best for the kids. And that she repeated that more than once kind of just stuck with me a little bit. Um, but I also liked the uh deescalation and confrontation that she's going to bring everyone in separately and then bring them in together. And it seems as though from her um from her not interview but when when you had called and asked some questions
007um from her references that um she likes to involve the board when making larger bigger decisions that affects the whole community. So I really liked hearing that too from her reference. Anything else this? Okay, we'll go on to Rick and with lack of no lack of respect, but what do you last name? Blickner. Blickner, I think. I think. Okay. Anyone want to start? I'm not trying to say this in a mean way, but I kind of don't remember him. Rick took us Rick took us up past the hour. Yeah. Um, Susan, you had something. Say it again. Which one are we on now? Rick Wner. I want to say he had a lot of very good references. He has a lot of experience with schools. The school that he came from is a little smaller,
008but they let him go due to just their budget. They actually just highly recommend him. I I think he's got all the qualifications. I mean, I think he'd do a really good job with the uh building a team, bringing the uh the community and district together. I think he's got that uh oh, social skills to do that all day long. He's very very strong in that way. a lot of experience and I guess the one thing else I had is you know that we are the role model for our kids. So how we interact, how we behave is is the kids are looking at us as a role model. So we need to act that I I I do have that as something he had mentioned and when he brought up policies you know they
009are to be followed through with you know u because we've had some problems with those too but he said yep policies are made to be put forth. Um and then uh oh collaboration, you know, he talked about talk the talk, walk the walk, but he also said you got to talk and walk. Yep. Also, yep. When we asked the question about the the curriculum curricular innovations, I felt that was a pretty vague. He really didn't have any specifics there. Um, which I mean it's not real concerning, but I mean yet um he did talk about reading being the number one. I mean, and I agree to that. It seems like if we can have students that can read and read really well and comprehend, everything else is right at the tip of your hand, whether
010it's maths, all that, and you can read yourself through a math issue. So, I would agree with that. I mean reading has utmost importance but the overall innovations that we've implemented in the school district that that I don't think we really got really anything specific there but no 11 or 10 uh number nine nine y I put some things on but then I did not have the follow-up question number 10 I don't have anything yeah I I I messia my issue is that I didn't write anything on 10 11 12 13 the or 14 we We didn't get to Yeah. Which just means that we have less information for me. Um that that was my biggest issue is we didn't he was the only one. We didn't get all the way through all the questions.
011Yep. But but he did ask about what we had in place for business management now. So he he he knew to ask that. Um and he did ask some specific questions about that. And then also he had talked about thinking outside the box or outside the normal of trying to find staff to to fill our needed positions. So I think that's that would be uh maybe potentially a positive there too. So he did have ideas as well for the business management to save cost instead of CISO. Yep. Right. That's a good point. He has connections there. Anything else? Going once. I unfortunately don't have a ton. Okay. For him. Next one is Randy, I believe. So, yeah. Randy Bquist. Did you hear that, Susan? Randy. Next one is Randy Burquist. Randall. Well, I'll start. Oh,
012did somebody Did you raise I'm sorry. Go ahead, Susan. Can you hear us? I I I actually didn't raise my hand first, but I want to say I did very much like Ry's presentation. I think he did his homework into our school district. I think he was prepared and ready for the interview, and he had a lot of very valid points. Well said. Sarah, did you want to go? I Yes, if I could, please. He was the only applicant that came with any kind of transition overview and what he will actually do if he were to be hired in this in this district. So the time and effort that he put into this alone to say I don't know everything but from what I know here is my sixphase transition um plan and I mean
013there's no no one even no one came with anything even remotely close to that. He came with numbers. He did his homework. He did his due diligence. and the fact that he came with all of that and with numbers that we haven't even seen. Yeah. Yeah. Pristine. But that's just my opinion. No, I'm going to have to Excuse me. I'm going to have to agree with that one because when he gave us uh stuff for us to look at that we didn't know about, that just shows you how prepared he really was. And that was really awesome to have somebody that actually truly wants to come here. The other thing was listening or reading what Susan had done for the references and they were like, "As much as we don't want you to hire him
014because we don't want to lose him, he's probably the perfect fit." So like they don't want to get rid of him, but you know, he wants to get closer to home. I appreciate that he is going to attend everything and he probably will. Mhm. You know, um he is vested in a I know he gets vested in our community and that's important to me. Just to piggy back off of that, March, Mrs. B, I don't know which one you prefer. I'm sorry. Um do you like Miss B? BB. Okay. BB. All right. Um I've never asked you that before. So, I uh you know, the fact that he talked about attending sports, but also talked about attending the fine arts really stuck with me as well because we have students in both areas and they're
015both equally important and they all should know that and we also have special ed, you know, opportunities. And he brought up every single facet and talked about how he supports every kid on every level. And I agree with you. I think he is going to truly show up for this community and for these kids and and his energy is was unmatched obviously because he he had the most energy but and hey he umpires too. Yeah. I want to say in his reference call too if you guys remember that somebody pointed out that he doesn't he finds the parents that maybe not everybody will seek out and he converses with them as well. So he had very very good people skull references. The passion, the passion is undeniable. And what stands out with me is the
016one word that I put high up on the list is respect. We need to respect each other. Mhm. That's what I got from the fifth question with his reference when it talked about describing his relationship with the board and this particular person said that the board was semi- divided like two two and two and how they think and how they vote. And he was able to work with, you know, with each group and it wasn't just one that favored and he didn't favor the other one. It was no, let's all work together. let's figure this out and do, you know, what's best for the kids. And for me, because boards can be divided at times because we're trying to make hard decisions and we need a superintendent that can work with all of us. Along
017with his passion, a sense of humor. I saw the humor that he had even in in in the you know he's able to find the fun in it and soften the environment. I think that's huge. One other thing he also mentioned because I know we've talked about this a few times and I just hit on it. He knows he's coming into a tough situation. He knows he's coming into hard discussions and and again tough decisions, but he knows that and he's ready to come in and do the work and and make those decisions with us. Everybody's there yet? Okay, question number one. The first thing I wrote down is he said he sees a challenge. That's what he's excited about the opportunity is he sees a challenge. That's my very first comment on the very
018first question. So, he knows he's done his homework. Yep. Yep. And it's not the first time if you look at his references that he came into a school district that had financial troubles and he pulled it back. Anything else? Anything else in here? No. One, two, three. Dave Keen was our next one. Anyone want to start? Well, he has interim experience, so he's been in the role and if I remember correctly, that's what he's looking for is an interim position to help us navigate the waters for the next year and also assist us in finding that permanent personnel. So, and I I I love his comment when he said, "The people in your school need to see you. It's very important. Not me, but you know. Yeah. And and he and he has had a
019number of roles within teaching all the levels of different principal positions, finance, HR. I I mean he he's been through the school system in many many many different positions. So he he has wore the hats so he understands what it takes so um to bring everybody together. Now Susan, was this the one that the reference said that they wouldn't hire him again? That was his prior school district he was an interim at. Just did they give any big reason why? Uh well financially he put some stuff into place right before he left if you remember. Yeah. So that's a little bit of a worry. media note embracing all the kids, you know. I mean, there's he's got a lot of positives. There's no way around it. Um I guess I do have an one note,
020another note on question five. Face to face. I put equals resolve conflict. He Yes, I did too. Me too. He uh he noted that. I think that's an that's a important note, but again, he's experienced in the interim position, so He also talked on number five about how he listens to the stakeholders which was the only comment that I except for Bry's that I got about including them but a lot of lot of experience and again he noted greatest strength is involvement visibility and being approachable. So, and I love when he said, "Embrace everyone no matter what." Right. Yeah. And kids need to be cared for. Yep. Number eight. I'm sorry. Yes. Yeah. That's where I wrote it to. Yeah. Embrace every kid cares. Why do we all write down the same thing? Because we're
021all we're all hearing the same thing, which is good. It is. Yeah. Anything else? You know, on question on question 12, we talked about the budget management. He did mention about right sizing districts. So he he he and you know, so there was some comment made on that. Um so and then and he also talked about that the budget coming up to the next year that this needs to be start and this I think he was again one of the two that talked about looking at budget previous that you know in December we need to start pulling things together and start looking at what we need to be talking about going into spring for the following year. So he made note of that and I I wholeheartedly believe that's I mean that's what we're looking
022for. And I something similar to that I can't understand my because it said and I would like to point out on and then less years 60 less than two years ago who was 60 less I don't know but that's what I have under there. So no I didn't write I think he did bring up enrollment being down some. Yes. I I think that was some of that number 12. He talked about student enrollment and then I think that's where the right sizing district comes into play. That's what the 60 was cuz we're down 60 kids. Right. Right. What were you saying Susan? Uh yes. when he talked about the budget starting to deal with it in December, January and then something to note as we move forward as a uh the financial team is monthly
023budget meetings. Yeah. Mhm. The references call the reference calls were quite informative. Yeah. He does have an accounting background also. Yes, he does. Yeah. So, Question 13. Any other comments? Any other information come forth? No. Okay. And then Kyle can't remember that. Kyle was our last one. Our last one, right? Yes. And he's the one who said like he literally is only here for the interim, right? That's all he wanted. Uh I believe that was uh it was it was it was the last one. Okay. It was Kyle. Okay. No, it was Keen. Yeah. It was David Keen. Okay. I knew it was somebody. One of them said that they were literally only wanted the interim. Yep. And Kyle was interested that he he wanted us to know that he would entertain if it worked
024out well that he would be potentially for as long as we you know we'll have them. Yep. Yep. I like that he was very personal. Um he definitely was engaging in in conversation and he like, you know, was looking right at you when he was like talking to you. um that I did I did appreciate. Um he did talk about the kids a lot. Sorry, without my notes. I'm just trying to remember the whole conversation. Oh, on number four I liked when he said uh build trust and collaboration. He said you got to be consistent. Listen, follow through. Follow. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I think sometimes for me having the right answer to interview questions can be very daunting because I feel like it's can be easy to interview. But I also
025feel like Kyle was very honest and forthcoming. Um when we asked him about the business manager, he's like, I'm not the best, but I I will figure it out or I will work with, you know, Ceso or whomever it may be. He's like, "I will find the answer." But he was very forthcoming on that and that meant a lot to me because I'd rather you be honest and say, "Hey, that's not my strong suit, but you know, here is what I can bring to the table or here is, you know, I like the transparency. I like the honesty." So, [Applause] Question eight, he pointed out really understanding identify students motivation, try to, you know, help them along. So I think that's something that's uh pretty important. I think if uh as a leader you can
026identify what motivates a student that also translates to your staff and that will help the staff also do the same. Same question said every kid can learn. It's our job to figure out how he or she learns best. That's what stuck out to me with that question. I recall we're not all the same. We all I'm sorry. No, you go ahead. No, go ahead. You're finished. I'm done. Okay. Okay. He said provide. What do you provide? Get the child what he needs. Mhm. And that leads you back to very number first question. What what uh why he was interested? He felt like what we have posted on the Facebook on website or whatever is it's really student centered and and that is what created his interest. He feels like our district does have the right
027concept and we're student centered. I also like that he's worked with many levels of students. He talked about working with disadvantaged youth and top IVB Ivy League students as well. So across the board, he has some experience with all levels, which obviously I think most school districts have. So again, just that ability to, you know, to have the opportunity for every student to learn and not just the top 3%, you know. Yeah, that's a good point. Anything else, Kyle? I thought we had very good Yeah. interviews, very good candidates. Yeah. Agree. I would agree. I'm not going to lie. When I walked in here, I was like, "Okay, my top two." And now I'm like, "I have no idea who I'm voting for." They've made it very difficult because there's things that you guys, you
028know, brought back up and I kind of forgot, you know, because you're trying to put the face of the name and stuff. I don't have the notes with me, but um yeah, this is they made a very difficult decision. Yeah, we've uh been handed a very nice card here. I mean, we've been truly looked upon and which we should be pretty happy with. I guess my thing is, you know, what specifically are we looking for for this? You know, what what specifically is the board? Like we might have to narrow it down that way. Like what are the next goals for this next year? Susan, do you have a word for that? Say that again. Do you Jen was asking what what are our goals for this year? Yep, I heard. What are we specifically
029looking for? Yeah, I think we need to heavily focus on our budget, [Music] retaining our teachers, and doing what we can to get kids that are online back in person. I would I'd agree to that budget and our students and realistically if we care for our students do what we need to do our budget will will start coming around. I would I would I think they all answered properly with all those areas though. Oh yeah. See that? Yeah. So then I you have to have something that stands out. I for me I have something that stands out and it's hard and I'll let you guys talk more but there's just a piece there that really stood out to me and it's really hard not to see that. I mean they're all professionals and I think
030we'd be in good hands in in most cases. I really do. I mean, we were looking for primarily interrum, but it it seems to me that um almost all of them would have some interest to help us if things didn't go well for the hiring process for the full-time next year. It sounds to me that we we'd have probably So maybe one Dave, maybe not, but I I I have the feeling that he would still support us if we were at that spot where he needed another year. I I I got that feeling that he'd probably be there for us. So I think every all of them would be there. Um yeah. Did you want to share with us that one thing that stood out to you? It it's the passion. Just the ut just
031the pure passion. I mean you could see the you could see the twinkle in his eye. You could see the passion. And with that passion was about facts but yet able to soften the blow with some humor to soften it. That's not train. That's just personality. And I think we're as a district, we need that. We need that passion. And I think that's going to give us a a community buy in. I I think uh over this next year is a tough year. There's no doubt about it and exuberant. I mean, I I get chills thinking about it. I I just that passion was just it it was incredible. I mean, I'm just going to come out and say it. My number one is Randy. So, that's I mean, I I have no idea if
032that's who you're talking about, but this plan and coming in when he is going to start or she is going to start their position in two weeks time and he came in already with a plan and he's passionate. Yeah. That to me showed that you are ready to be here. That to me showed that he is committed to this district. So that's where I stand. That that that is where I was that's the individual I'm speaking of. Yeah. Speaking on Randy too, he did uh say that he had he has a passion for LPA as prior working there as well. Yeah. Jen. Yeah, I I would definitely say that, you know, the passion was definitely and the humor that he just made everything a little bit more lighter, but you could tell that he really
033like LPA was his home. So, you could and you could feel it and you know that he truly does care about this, you know, LPA and that he wanted to be back to Raider Nation. I too thought he came very prepared and listed things that he wanted for the future. So that means he is invested or wants to be invested. Yep. Um not that the other ones did not do that, but he put it right out front. and and we are talking about an individual that's currently under contract and he knows this is an intrum. He's willing to take that chance with us knowing all that. That's that's confidence. There's something to be said about confidence. So, does someone make a motion? Is that our next step? I motion that I I motion that we
034vote. I second that. I I agree. All in favor? I I I All right. Roll on the horn. You want me to go first? I I uh think for our like Park Ottoman district for interim position. I I I vote for Randall Burquist. Are we doing a roll call vote again? Right. I second it. Yeah. I thought it's roll call. Are we doing a roll call vote, Susan? Yes, we are. Okay, perfect. Sarah and I also pick Randy. Oh, can't hear you. Oh, we lost. She's probably muted. There we go. That's okay. I think you were muted, so we couldn't hear you. Oh, sorry. We nominate somebody and then we need a second and then we can go through and say I. Perfect. Okay. So, I'll nominate Randall Burquist for our interim superintendent. I will
035I will second it. All in favor? I I There we are. Okay. Randall Burquist is our new super interim superintendent. So, who will make the call to provide the offer? I will make the call to provide the offer immediately. Okay. Um I will like to say I did speak with Christie. we will be starting at our current superintendent's wage, but she said it is. We will need to meet in as a negotiation team if needed because in an interim superintendent position, it is highly advisable or best practice or to do a little higher. So, we will just have to I will start out with our current superintendent contract and we will have to take a look at it from there and I will let all the other candidates know. Anything else that we need to
036discuss? That's the only thing. Uh, yeah. I No, sounds good. I would I would like all the candidates to know that we appreciate them putting their name in. Oh, absolutely. And they were all very good. Yeah. And it's too bad. Absolutely. I agree with you, March, and I will extremely convey that we were very lucky to get that many candidates. Yes. So, if they're listening, I really appreciated it. Yeah. Same. Yeah. Absolutely. Yep. Same here. Okay. Done. Next. Next regular meeting. I think we just have to say that and then Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Regular meeting school board is June 23rd 3:00 Lake Park Ottoman High School here. Um 3. It should be 5:30, right? I know you said 3. I thought maybe someone changes. Okay. So we will 5:30. 5:30. Well 5:30 because I thought
037are we meeting before? We're not. All right, done. Thank you, ladies. Thank you. Have a good day, guys. See you later. Thank you, guys. Have fun. Safe travel. Mhm.