Bernard selected as first choice for R-P superintendent

After interviewing the six finalists for R-P Superintendent, the R-P School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to offer the superintendent position to Benjamin Bernard. Since they were aware that Bernard was also a finalist for a position at a nearby school, the board also selected Craig Ihrke as their choice in the event that Bernard turned down the offer.

Teacher Meredith Johnson addressed the board and shared the staff representatives’ input. Staff appreciated that Bernard leads by example, is an active participant in the school, is willing to have tough conversations, and is not applying at a lot of schools. They felt Bernard would stay with the district.

The staff applauded Craig Ihrke’s leadership style and the fact that he tries to create more leaders. They recognized his experience as a superintendent and his familiarity with the schools, educational organizations, and the community as a plus. Teachers liked that he encourages productive struggle and is willing to make tough decisions.

The staff did not have a clear favorite between the two men.

The board shared their delight at the well-qualified field of candidates. Several on the board commented on the experience, presentation and resume of Ihrke. Others felt Bernard’s love of students, his enthusiasm, and active involvement at the school weighed the scales in his favor. The fact that he has earned his doctorate showed that he is a dedicated worker.

Ultimately, Chair Chris Grindland opined, “I can see any of the three (Brad Berzinski, Ben Bernard, and Craig Ihrke). It’s a tough decision – it’s good to have a tough decision!” He went on to poll the board on their first and second choice; the majority chose Bernard as first choice and Ihrke as second.

The negotiations team was meeting on Wednesday morning to decide on the salary offer. Calls to Bernard and possibly Ihrke were to be made also. The official hiring of the superintendent will occur after salary negotiations and background checks.

Highlights of the interviews

Benjamin Bernard was raised in Peterson and Rushford and attended R-P Schools. His experience in education includes teaching science in North Branch and as a high school principal in St. Charles. He’s very interested in being close to home again. He still teaches as a principal, enjoying the opportunity to get to know the students.

Bernard noted that he is “technologically savvy,” but still prefers to communicate by talking with people, especially at events where he feels he is more approachable.

Bernard is well aware that a superintendent is the leader of the school and can never take that hat off. As a representative of the school, the superintendent affects how the entire community views the school.

Mutual trust is the most important factor in building a leadership team according to Bernard; he trusts his team to supply honest information and opinions and needs his team to trust him as well. The big picture is important to Bernard; he likes to sit and listen in meetings, look at the data, analyse and summarize it, and then present it clearly.

Bernard looks at the focus of the school to determine what curriculum students need to successfully graduate. He sees the role of technology as a tool; if it doesn’t make the work easier and quicker, he doesn’t use it. He tries to make others feel comfortable with technology.

Bernard has been used to a zero based budget in St. Charles; he has worked on budgets for 14 years. He likes having a flexible budget and doesn’t like the idea of spending money just to use up the budget.

Feeling that most students don’t know what levels they can actually reach, Bernard sees his mission to be to push students to go further.

In regards to student discipline, Bernard feels its important to ask the students to fix their problems themselves. If they can’t, then the school needs to step in. He feels this type of discipline needs to be followed throughout the building.

He encourages teachers to take chances and make mistakes; he feels it’s important to not “squash creativity and innovation.” Bernard sees the teachers’ greatest responsibility is to make relationships with the kids so they can support them in their needs.

Bernard sees the arts and athletics as important to building confidence in students as well as another chance to build connections with students. Bernard feels R-P’s biggest challenge is to offer classes to attract students and keep them enrolled at R-P.

Bernard declared that you won’t be likely to find him in his office – he much prefers to be out and about in the school, getting to know and help both students and staff.

Craig Ihrke, currently in his 14th year as superintendent at Caledonia, feels the most important part of communication is listening. He prefers face-to face interaction as much as possible.

He is already familiar with the R-P administrative team as well as HVED, SSC, and Bluff Country Collaborative. As an experienced superintendent, he calls budgeting a continuous cycle. He noted that he is frugal and knows a school needs to spend its money well.

He uses a collaborative leadership style and feels he is good at understanding what skills people have. He prefers not to operate from a command style, calling himself contemplative. Ihrke says he sees the big picture.

Ihrke feels the role of technology is to bring the world to students’ doorsteps; he stressed, however, that it should not replace face-to-face interaction.

Ihrke sees his role as a bridge between the school and community. He sees his role with a school board as an advisor of sound advice. He feels the greatest challenge for R-P will be financial and sees the need to get students back and enrolled at R-P.