Posted: 6/5/02

Steenblock in line for new contract

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Lynn Steenblock will be sticking around for another three years as superintendent of schools in ISD 831.

The school board Monday night approved a resolution to offer the superintendent a future three-year contract. Under Steenblockís current contract, the school board is required to give the superintendent a 12-month notice of its intention to renew the contract.

Steenblock is now finishing his second year as chief administrator in the 7700-student school district. He will begin his third year of service on July 1.

Steenblock was hired by the district in June of 2000. He was selected from a field of 31 applicants as the successor to Don Ruble who retired two years ago as superintendent.

He moved to Forest Lake from Montevideo where he was superintendent of the seven-district Minnesota River Valley Educational District.

Under Steenblockís current three-year contract, he was paid $114,000 last year and is earning $117,000 this year. In the third year of the contract commencing on July 1, Steenblock will be paid $120,000.

He is also eligible to receive pay-for-performance bonuses of up to $3000 in the second year and $4000 in the third year of the deal. The bonus is to be determined by the school board.

At a closed session of the board on May 6, the board agreed to renew Steenblockís contract for an additional three years. After approving the resolution and wrapping up regular business at Mondayís meeting, the board closed its session to discuss parameters for the new contract.

The board parameters will be carried to the boardís staff welfare committee for review and recommendation. A final recommendation will come before the school board for approval.

ìHeís obviously done a very good job,î Board President Bill Bresin said later. ìWe are moving in the right direction as a district.

ìThe board is behind him and we want to get a contract done and move on.î

Bresin cited Steenblockís leadership efforts on the passage of the excess operating levy last fall and numerous student achievements as reasons for the continued support of the superintendent.

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