Schools search for new leader

The Dickinson Public School Board began the first of three interviews Monday night, interviewing superintendent candidate Mike Bitz during a special board meeting.

Bitz comes from Hillsboro Public Schools District 9, where he has served as their superintendent since 1999.

Bitz received his doctorate in education from the University of North Dakota in Educational Leadership in May 2008.

During yesterday's events, Bitz had an opportunity to tour the town and the schools, as well as interact with employees and the public at an open house.

Bitz was asked a number of questions by Vince Reep, business manager and director of personnel for Dickinson Public Schools.

When asked how he would interact with the public in Dickinson, Bitz said he hoped to become a visible fixture in the community.

"I would just try to be visible in the community," Bitz said. "I think people make judgments on you, not so much what you do from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but where they see you out and about and whether or not they can approach you or not."

Bitz was also asked by Reep how he believes morale could be sustained within the district.

"I think for the most part if the teachers and staff are happy, that's going to spread down to the students," Bitz said. "I think it's important to make them happy and feel good about where they work, and I think you do that by just listening to your staff and being approachable to your staff and letting them know that whether you can fix it or not you want to listen to their concerns."

Bitz said one thing he acknowledges he could improve is working to learn more about standards and benchmarks within schools.

"I continue to read about and learn about but it's not something I went to college with," Bitz said. "I need to learn in that area, instructional strategies, how kids learn, benchmarks; in that area I'm still growing in."

Continuing to improve student achievement, he said, is something he would like to bring to the district, and he would make it a point to be a regular sight at each of the schools so that staff and students feel comfortable talking to him.

Candidate Frank Schill will be in Dickinson today with a formal interview by board members scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Central Administration Building. Wednesday, candidate Douglas Sullivan will be in Dickinson, with a formal interview at the same time and place.

An open house with the candidates is scheduled for both days from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Central Administration Building, which the public and employees of Dickinson Public Schools are invited to attend.

The board plans to go into an executive session Wednesday evening following the final interview to determine which of the three candidates to whom they will be making an offer.