The search for a new Seine River SD superintendent

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This article was published 12/07/2024 (286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A report from incoming interim superintendent Reg Klassen detailed the way Seine River School Division (SRSD) sought out feedback from employee groups on what kind of person they want to take over after the surprise resignation of Ryan Anderson on May 24 after less than two years on the job.

Klassen will retire July 31 from Frontier School Division, which covers three quarters of Manitoba’s geographic area. He plans on taking the interim tag for SRSD on Aug. 19, but stopped by the last SRSD board meeting of the school year to deliver the report between road trips to Frontier school graduations.

“Our target is that by the time I start… that a new superintendent will be selected,” said Klassen after the meeting.

He explained that he still needs to hang around for a while, as most people hired for such a job usually need about six months to make the transition from their prior employment.

Feedback from staff had a quick turnaround to move the process forward so that a new superintendent can be in place by January before the next budget is made.

“Nothing in the response has surprised the board. People are pretty similar in what they want in leadership,” said Klassen.

Board chair Wendy Bloomfield concurred, saying Klassen has done well in helping in their search.

“It’s been quite positive. He sent letters out to various groups in the division and some key people like principals and vice principals, and solicited feedback on not who should be the superintendent but what are the qualities, education experience, attributes you’re looking for in a new superintendent

“And in addition he made himself available on one morning and one afternoon, came to the board office and sort of set up one-on-one with board office staff,” said Bloomfield.

She said there was a consensus without much deviation.

Klassen’s report came back that employees said they should be looking for someone who excels at communication with an emphasis on transparency and an open door policy, understands Manitoba public school financing, supports inclusion and French immersion, and treats all employee groups equally.

A job posting is out and available on the school division’s website, with applications needing to go to Klassen by July 22.

Bloomfield said the board asked Klassen to help them after consulting University of Manitoba faculty of education dean emeritus John Wiens, who she had worked with when provincial Bill 64 was proposed by the previous government to dissolve English language school boards.

“And Reg was a name I thought of too because I knew he was retiring. And over the years I’ve got to know him a bit as well in his current role, and felt that he was somebody I felt could step in and assist us,” said Bloomfield.

Wiens contacted several people including Klassen, who Bloomfield said was the board’s first choice.

“I’ve hired lots of people, and so I have a lot of the steps down. I have the ads, the process, all kinds of questions to choose from to ask. I have documentation that I use to screen the applicant. So I have all that because I’ve been hiring people for 30 years,” said Klassen, who has been filling his evenings and weekends helping in SRSD’s search.

His motivation to help was straightforward.

“Because I was asked,” replied Klassen.