School board narrows superintendent search to three

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The search continues for the next superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools, with the applicant list being narrowed down to three.

At a special meeting Wednesday, the school board narrowed a list of nine potential applicants down to three, which will be asked to come to Dickinson for a day to view the schools and have a formal interview in March.

Those chosen include Mike Bitz, superintendent of Hillsboro Public Schools, Frank Schill, superintendent of Cavalier Public School District and Douglas Sullivan, superintendent of Sidney School District in Montana.

“I believe that all three of these individuals have the pieces that the board has asked for,” said Vince Reep, business manager and director of personnel for Dickinson Public Schools. “Two of them have completed their doctorates; Mr. Schill has his specialist degree and is working on his doctorate.”

The superintendent search began shortly after current superintendent Paul Stremick offered his resignation to the board in early January.

Reep said the three applicants all have years of experience as superintendents, all came highly recommended, and all will definitely bring different qualities to the district.

“When I call these three, I will ask for a commitment to come to the interview,” Reep said. “In the past, it has happened where people have said they would come and they didn’t. I think we want to be very upfront with them that we have an expectation that if they accept the interview that they will be here.”

School board member Kris Fehr said after reviewing the applicants’ qualifications there seemed to be a definite division.

During the meeting, tentative dates for tours and interviews for each of the three candidates are set for March 2, 3 and 4.

School Board President Dean Rummel said the board should sit down together Wednesday night after the final interview, to discuss who they would like to make an offer to.

“If we can come to a conclusion that night and at least to give me direction to start the process to come to an agreement with the candidate, I believe we can get it done in time to approve the hire at the board meeting the following Monday,” Rummel said.

The community and Dickinson Public Schools employees are invited to an open house from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 2, 3 and 4 at the Central Administration Office to meet with the superintendent candidates.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board is set for 5:00 p.m., March 9 at the Central Administration Office.

Tags: superintendent, dickinson, public, schools