After reviewing five applications, the Mabel-Canton School Board selected four candidates to interview for the district’s superintendent position at its March 17 meeting.
The candidates selected for interviews are Michael Mangan, director of educational success and innovation at Houston Public Schools and Minnesota Virtual Academy (MNVA); Mike Harvey, former superintendent at Zumbrota-Mazeppa Schools for six years; Mark Gruen, current superintendent in Johnson Creek, Wis,; and Jacqueline Lyga, a principal in the La Crosse School District.
Superintendent Gary Kuphal emphasized that the interviews will be open to the public. The first round of interviews will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 5:15 p.m. and Wednesday, March 25 at 5:15 p.m. The second round of interviews are scheduled for the following week on Tuesday, March 31.
Board members present at the meeting were Jason Marquardt, Dustin Tollefsrud, Traci Livingood, Diane Wilder, Amber Tripp, Mark Weidemann and Chair Chris Miller.
Chairman Chris Miller called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The board unanimously approved changes to the agenda and approved minutes from the February 11 special board meeting and the regular school board meeting on February 17.
In one swift motion, the board approved the consent agenda, which included the 2025-2026 budget and claims report, accepted the resignation of Jeff Rein as boys JV basketball coach, hired Bonnie Paus as testing lab monitor from March 16 through May 1 for two to four hours per day, and reduced paraprofessional days from five to three days per week for Raedene Quandahl.
The only reports presented were the PreK-12 principal and superintendent’s reports.
Principal Michelle Weidemann reported that the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) testing started on Tuesday, March 17. The schedule is online and not to stress the students all they ask of the students is to do their best. She expressed her thanks to everyone “who worked the turkey dinner” and to Doug Wyffels for organizing the fundraiser. Over 1100 people were served. The seniors leave their class trip on March 27.
Kuphal reported that he consulted the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) regarding when a board member should abstain on a vote. He explained that an abstention is required when a spouse is directly impacted by a vote involving their contract. Minnesota law does not require an abstention when other relatives’ agreements are being considered, though a board member could choose to abstain.
Kuphal also reported that two new Taher employees will join the district’s food service staff next year due to the resignations of Jane Hall and Renee Hosting at the end of the current school year. Allison Sollien will replace Hall.
The board approved dissolving the girls basketball cooperative agreement with Spring Grove and approved two coaching positions (varsity and junior varsity) for girls basketball.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a full-time Special Education paraprofessional position and hired Ashleigh Patterson to fill the position.
- Approved the cooperative agreement with Lanesboro for track, boys golf, and girls golf. Kuphal explained that girls have expressed an interest in participating in golf.
- Approved a five-year technology agreement with Ed Midwest. They have provided service to the district for the past eight years.
- Approved commissioning services for the bond project with IEA for a cost of $52,000, as required by Minnesota statute. According to Kuphal’s written report, the school is required to have an outside agency to ensure that all HVAC and other identified systems are complete and functioning properly. IEA was the low bidder among five proposals.
- Approved rebidding for overhead doors, painting, louvers, site fencing, landscaping, and welding booth.
- Approved Dana Langworthy as a .2 FTE (full-time equivalent) art teacher for eighth grade art during the fourth quarter. Langworthy is the new Spring Grove art teacher, and this arrangement fits her schedule perfectly, according to Principal Weidemann.
- Discussed the 2027-2028 calendar and asked that the calendar committee come back to the board with their recommendation regarding the start date since Labor Day falls late in the year. The school can start on September first, which will give the school three days before Labor Day.
- Approved amendment number one to the management agreement with Kraus-Anderson Construction.
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