100-Day Transition Plan Underway for Dist. 197 Superintendent

Nancy Allen-Mastro will report back in December on her findings.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board welcomed Superintendent Nancy Allen-Mastro to her first school board meeting Monday night at Mendota Heights City Hall. “It really is exciting to be here,” said Allen-Mastro, before delivering her first superintendent report. It was also the first board meeting for new Communications Director Carrie Hilger, who was hired from Minnetonka Public Schools. Allen-Mastro gave a rundown of her 100-day transition plan to hear from stakeholders about the strengths and weaknesses of the district and gain a thorough understanding of the district’s programs, finances and student achievement. The plan (see attached PDF) focuses on four main themes: stakeholder relationships, superintendent and school…

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No Golden Parachute for Dist. 197 Superintendent

Nancy Allen-Mastro will earn $165,000 plus benefits her first year, but will not receive a severance package should she leave the district.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District has a superintendent, following the signing of a three-year contract Tuesday night. Nancy Allen-Mastro will receive a starting salary of $165,000 plus benefits.   Board member Dewayne Dill, who worked with Human Resources Director Linda Goers to negotiate the contract, said most of the language is based on an updated model contract from the Minnesota School Board Association and past district contracts. Dill said a major priority for the board was to avoid a large payout, or as he put it,  "bestow(ing) great riches,” in the case of a separation. Instead, Allen-Mastro will receive a year of health insurance coverage after she retires for every year of service. If she accepts a position…

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The File Cabinet

District 197 School Board Agenda for April 10

The board is meeting on a Tuesday this week.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at Henry Sibley High School, room A-241. On the agenda, the board is expected to approve a contract for the new superintendent selected last month. The board will also be reviewing changes to the district's budget for the 2012-2013 school year.  More information on adding a student representative to the board is also on the agenda. See the attached pdf for the full agenda. 

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Discuss: What Should New Superintendent's Top Priority Be?

Bullying? Technology? The achievement gap? Share your ideas on the story of the week.

The story of the week in Mendota Heights is the new leader of the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District. Nancy Allen-Mastro was selected on Wednesday for the position of superintendent. So, what's the most important issue for her to dig into in her first year? Use of technology? Early education? Post-secondary preparation?  There's no shortage of education issues that affect students, so what would you pick?   See Also: District 197 School Board Chooses Superintendent Superintendent Finalist from Bloomington Interviewed by District 197 School Board First Superintendent Finalist Interviewed by District 197 Local Voices: SD 197 School Board and District Officials Insensitive, Indifferent or Incompetent Finalists Chosen for …

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District 197 School Board Chooses Superintendent

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board chose an assistant superintendent from Bloomington Wednesday night to lead the district.

The District 197 School Board chose Nancy Allen-Mastro Wednesday night to lead the district as superintendent. Allen-Mastro is an assistant superintendent with Bloomington Public Schools, where she is also chief academic officer. The board vote was unanimous. "I am excited about this opportunity and feel I am a good match for what the district is looking for,” said Allen-Mastro in a statement Wednesday night. “I felt very welcomed by the community and staff and had a wonderful day in the district yesterday. I could tell it was the right place for me and I am excited about what we will be able to do together.” In Bloomington, Allen-Mastro has facilitated strategic planning initiatives including a reorganization of the district’s elementary …

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First Superintendent Finalist Interviewed by District 197

Jon Lamberson is one of three finalists being considered for the position of superintendent in the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District.

Jon Lamberson, superintendent of Riverside Public Schools in Illinois, completed a day-long interview within District 197 on Monday for the position of superintendent. He met with teachers, parents and administrators. Following that, there was a public Q&A and a formal interview with the board. “After a long day you showed remarkable grace. I’d be falling asleep,” joked board chair Mark Spurr. Lamberson leads a five-building district in the suburbs of Chicago that has seen marked growth, which he attributes to the district’s achievement. He said the district’s demographics have changed alongside that growth, and have transitioned from being more than 90 percent white to about 60 percent white, 30 percent Latino. Finance, Achievement Gap …

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Finalists Chosen for District 197 Superintendent

The school board interviewed six candidates over Friday night and Saturday morning.

Three candidates have been selected as finalists for the position of superintendent in the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School District.  Dr. Nancy Allen-Mastro, an assistant superintendent in Bloomington Public Schools; Sharon Freeman, an assistant superintendent in Saint Paul Public Schools and Dr. Jon Lamberson, superintendent of Riverside Public Schools in Illinois were selected. Profiles are available on the District 197 website. Six semifinalists were interviewed Friday evening and Saturday morning. The board deliberated for about an hour before deciding on three final candidates.  "It didn't take that long for us to decide on the three finalists," said board chair Mark Spurr. "I feel very good about the shortlist we have." …

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District 197 Superintendent Interview Candidates Chosen

The school board will be interviewing the following six candidates on Friday and Saturday.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board selected semi-final candidates Thursday for the position of superintendent. They will be interviewing three candidates on Friday and three candidates on Saturday. Interviews are in Henry Sibley High School room A-241 and open to the public. See the attached PDF for candidate profiles provided by the district.  Finalists will be announced after the interviews on Saturday.   Friday, March 16 Dr. Mike McLoughlin, superintendent of the Chisago Lakes Area School District, is scheduled to be interviewed at 5 p.m. Friday, March 16.  Sharon Freeman, assistant superintendent in the St. Paul Public School District, is scheduled to be interviewed at 6:15 p.m. Friday, March 16. Dr. Joe Gertsema, …

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Brief: Community Invited to Weigh in on District 197 Superintendent Search

A community meeting and an online survey are open to the public for feedback.

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board and the search firm hired to seek out a new superintendent have announced a public meeting and online survey open to the public. School Exec Connect is seeking stakeholder feedback to find out what the district needs in a new superintendent. They will be hosting a public meeting 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2 at Henry Sibley High School. In addition, a confidential online survey is available for residents and staff to give feedback on the search. Responses are due by Feb. 13. If the search goes according to plan, the board will have a panel of candidates to interview in mid-March, and a final selection will be made the last week of March.

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