Posted: 6/25/03

Massey is new FLHS principal

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A search for a new principal to lead Forest Lake High School has ended where it started ó at home.

Steve Massey, the current principal of the Central Learning Center in Forest Lake, was the unanimous choice of the ISD 831 School Board on Monday to replace Mark Robertson, the new superintendent of schools in Fridley. Massey heads the Area Learning Center and Central Montessori Elementary School in addition to duties as principal of the districtís summer school program.

Massey, a four-year principal in Forest Lake, was recommended for the job by ISD 831 Superintendent of Schools Lynn Steenblock. He was selected from a field of 25 candidates.

ìIím flattered with the recommendation,î Massey said to the board Monday at a special meeting at the Central Learning Center.

Massey said he welcomed the opportunity to work with a ìtremendous staffî at the high school. Continuing the schoolís tradition of excellence and finding ways to improve the school would be key goals, he said.

ìWeíll do that as a team,î Massey said.

Massey said the opportunity to work at the high school fulfilled a career aspiration that would enable him to stay at home where his kids go to school and where his wife works. His wife is a teacher at Forest Lake Elementary School.

The family lives in Columbus Township.

The process

Steenblock said Monday the new principal was chosen under guidelines of School Board Policy 423 that spells out hiring procedures. Under that policy, the final candidate is recommended to the board by the superintendent.

The final say rests with the school board.

As part of the policy, the administration utilized two interview teams for the five finalists selected for interviews. District building administrators made up one committee while teachers, parents and students formed the second committee.

From the field of five candidates, both committees selected two finalists for Steenblockís final review and recommendation. The second finalist was not announced.

In addition to Massey, other finalists who interviewed for the job were:

ïKim Hartung-Strouth, assistant principal, Forest Lake High School.

ïJohn Boche, assistant principal, Lakeville.

ïRichard Rhoades, principal, Wadena-Deer Creek High School.

ïJeff McGonigal, assistant principal, Roseville.

The board vote to accept the recommendation from the superintendent to hire Massey was 6-0.

Support came from President Bill Bresin and members Dean Barr, Susan Novak, Jody Krebs, Karen Morehead and Joe Graft. Member Rob Rapheal was absent. Grafft authored the motion to accept the recommendation.

Massey will be part of a principal group in the district that will negotiate new contracts for the 2003-04 and 2004-2005 school years. He will receive salary of $98,649 in his new job, the same rate of pay earned by Robertson in 2002-2003, the final year of the current contract.

Massey background

Massey, 40, is originally from Dubuque, IA. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Loras College, Dubuque, and his master of arts in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

He completed his doctorate degree in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota in 1999. He is licensed in Minnesota as a district superintendent and K-12 school administrator.

He came to ISD 831 four years ago and spent two years as an assistant principal at Central-Century junior high school. He has worked the past two years as the ALC-Montessori principal at the Central Learning Center.

Prior to coming to Forest Lake, he worked at PEASE Academy, a contract alternative school in the Minneapolis Public Schools system.

He was a guidance counselor and classroom teacher at PEASE from 1989 to 1992. He worked as executive director of PEASE from 1992 to 1999 when he left for his job in Forest Lake.

Massey said Monday he would make the transition from his current job to his new post as time allows this summer. He currently is in charge of the summer school program which has more than 800 students enrolled.

The appointment is officially effective on July 1.

Other business

The board Monday also accepted the resignation of Robertson who served as principal the past six years.

ìWe appreciate the good work he has done,î Bresin said.

The board voted 6-0 on a motion to thank Robertson for his work and wishing him well in his new job.

With the decision to name Massey to the new post on the books, Steenblock said the CLC vacancy will be posted. He hopes to have a field of candidates secured by July 9.

Steenblock said a hiring decision for the vacant assistant principal position at Century Junior High School should be reached soon.

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