H-W School Board votes to share Supt. with SW

CRESCO - On a vote of 3-2 (Alison Holten, Andy Ludeking and Shirley Sovereign for and Toni Johnson and Tom Williams against), the Howard-Winneshiek Community School Board voted to share the new superintendent Mr.  Kris Einck with South Winn, his current school.

During open forum, teacher Karen Steffen spoke on the topic of sharing. When a new superintendent was being looked at, she said, “There was no indication we would share a superintendent. When we saw it in the Decorah paper that it was being discussed at South Winn, the staff was confused. We felt information was not shared. 

“My main concern is there was no indication when the hiring process was going on that it would be shared.”

After opening the issue up for board members, Williams spoke first. He was concerned about several things. One of them was the shared 80/20 agreement. “We originally offered Mr. Einck $165,000 base pay, for a 100% superintendent. We need to knock off $33,000 from his pay to $132,000. If South Winn wants to give $33,000, that would make it $165,000.”

He continued, “[Einck] even said he wasn’t sure he could do the sharing. We need fences that need mending — in Elma, Lime Springs and Ridgeway. Are these people going to be forgotten again?”

Williams added, “If he’s not here, someone has to do his job. Then they’ll want to get paid for that. We can’t afford that now. The sharing part wasn’t even brought up to others who might want to apply for the job.”

Ludeking was out of the state and listening on the phone. He asked, “Is it a one-year agreement, and how much does that save?”

Business manager Robyn Lane replied, “We would get $65,000-66,000 not this year, but next.” In addition South Winn would be paying some of the salary, FICA and IPERS. She figured the amount of savings was around $75,000-80,000.

Sovereign reminded the board, the discussion on sharing first came up in his interview with the board. Einck mentioned he’d be willing to share his time with South Winn because he didn’t want to leave them high and dry. 

Board members had agreed to look at sharing.

Johnson was more concerned about the amount of work that would be done by the new superintendent. “He still has to do 100% of the [paperwork]. So, which extra-curricular activities or community events is he going to miss because he is at South Winn?

“We hired him at 100%, not 80%. I don’t think getting $65,000 in 2023-2024 is worth it. I think it’s a bad idea for [his] first year. I’m not for this at all.”

Williams responded, “I don’t want him doing South Winn stuff on our dime. I think if it was important enough to get teachers, community members and students’ involved on the hiring of the superintendent, then their opinion matters, too.

“ I’ve talked to them. They want him here. If you go against that, our credibility is gone. There’s a lot more involved here than money. Integrity. My integrity.”

Sovereign offered, “We interviewed him, and we thought he was a person of high integrity. We talked to so many people with first-hand experience with him. We did our  background check and due diligence. 

“I don’t think any agenda was hidden. It was not because he didn’t want to leave South Winn, it was because he didn’t want to leave them hanging.

“He’s willing to take on two jobs to serve kids. I would like to move forward. Mr. Einck is enthusiastic and committed. It’s just a one-year trial.” In addition she admitted, she didn’t know that sharing was an issue until June 3, which is why she never mentioned it to anyone. “I can’t state something I don’t know.”

Johnson replied, “We kept our deal. We have discussed it. This is a big deal. I hear you say it is just one year, but I don’t think this is the year to start.”

Holten said the savings is what she is looking at. “What worries me is the utilities keep going up. How else do we reduce expenses? I’d like to look at administration. It’s just a year trial. It’ll expire June 30, 2023.

Johnson disagreed. “We owe it to our staff and students for him to be here 100% of the time for the first year.”

The vote for sharing the superintendent with South Winn passed.