Eye On Oshkosh: BOARD DESIGNATES FINALIST FOR ...

Stan Mack from Minneapolis was designated as the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of the Oshkosh Area School District at a special board meeting on Tuesday morning. Mack currently is Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of School Administrators, which is the licensure organization for school administrators in Minnesota. Prior to assuming that position in 2009, Mack was the superintendent of the 12,350 student Robbinsdale Area School District in suburban Minneapolis for nine years. Prior to Robbinsdale, Mack served as assistant superintendent in two large districts in suburban Minneapolis, for eight years in the Osseo Area Schools with 22,000 students and for four years with the Burnsville, Eagan, Savage School District with 10,000 students. Mack started his educational career in the South Saint Paul Schools as a Special Education Teacher and then Director of Special Services. He left South Saint Paul to assume responsibilities as superintendent of the Eveleth Area Schools and Eveleth Technical College and then as superintendent of the Northfield Area Schools.

Mack received his bachelor?s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, majoring in political science and his master?s degree from the University of Minneapolis with a major in educational psychology. He currently is completing his doctorate at the University of Minnesota with a major in education policy and administration. He anticipates receipt of the doctorate in 2013.

In his current position, Mack is responsible for overseeing the preparation, licensing and standards development for school principals, superintendents, directors of special education and directors of community education in the state of Minnesota, as well as investigating all allegations of unethical behavior among administrators currently licensed. As superintendent of the Robbinsdale District, Mack focused on the needs of a diverse student body, instruction, facilities and finances. During the course of Mack? s nine years in the Robbinsdale School District, he initiated the change from a curricular based instructional program to a standards based instructional program, led and supervised the renovation of thirteen district schools, and the construction of a new elementary school. While there, he worked with the Board to develop a strategic plan that improved instruction and facilitated the reorganization of the district to make it more cost effective.

Upon appointment, Mack will establish his residence in Oshkosh. He is married and the father of three grown sons. His wife, Margaret, is a middle school principal. His twin sons will be entering their junior years of studies at the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota. His oldest son is a graduate of Saint John?s University and is a technology/information systems manager for a Minneapolis technology firm.

Mack emerged as the sole finalist after the Board conducted a national search for the replacement of Superintendent Don Viegut who has accepted the position of administrator for Cooperative Educational Service Agency 8. With the assistance of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, a Chicago based school executive search firm, 26 individuals were identified as possible candidates for the position. The search firm identified five individuals that best met the Board?s criteria for the position and presented them to the Board for consideration. After meeting with the five individuals during the past week, the Board unanimously agreed that Mack had the strongest background and experience base to address the needs of the Oshkosh Area Schools and determined to identify one finalist for the position. School Board President John Lemberger, who was engaged in the past three searches for superintendents in Oshkosh, noted that the slate interviewed this year was the strongest slate he feels the Board has seen for the position, but that Mack?s successful experience in many areas that paralleled Oshkosh?s needs caused the Board to focus on him as the preferred candidate.

The Board anticipates employing Mack upon completing due diligence which includes additional reference checking, a comprehensive background check by an independent investigative firm and
agreement on an employment contract.

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