Fosston Public School District superintendent resigns; board sets interview schedule with staff input

The Fosston Public School District Board of Education on May 4 accepted a resignation letter from the district superintendent and moved to begin a search process that will include selected staff members as consultative, nonvoting participants.

The board voted to accept the superintendent's resignation after he confirmed he submitted a letter to be acted on that evening. The superintendent told the board he plans to honor his contract through June 30 and remain available for signatures or official duties during the transition. "I leave with mixed emotion but nonetheless a decision that I've made and I'm at peace with," he said during his remarks.

Board members discussed logistics for the search and agreed that staff representation can provide valuable building-level perspective. The board clarified that staff attendees would be consultative and would not hold a vote. A board member summarized past practice as selecting a cross-section of staff — teachers, administrative support, custodial and facilities — to attend interviews and offer observations during the open-meeting process.

The board scheduled candidate interviews for May 11, 13 and 15 at 5 p.m., and set a special board meeting on May 4 at 6 p.m. to review candidates prior to interviews. The board said it will invite staff to express interest in serving as interview representatives and will publicize the process and schedule in advance.

The district will manage the hiring timeline and post the superintendent vacancy; board members noted they have already received some informal interest. The superintendent emphasized he would assist with the transition and that, by statute, the district must have a superintendent on file.

The board did not release a timeline for finalist selection or a target date for appointment; next procedural steps are candidate review at the special meeting and the interviews scheduled in mid-May.