Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@shawanoleader.com
The Bonduel School Board hopes to have a new district administrator to replace Peter Behnke by early May.
Behnke, 62, announced last week he would retire June 30 after 25 years in Bonduel. The board held a special meeting Monday to discuss the process, when to review applications and when to conduct interviews.
Behnke said he anticipated 15 to 25 applicants for the position and suggested that the board pick six to eight for interviews. If the board formally approves the search at its regular meeting Monday, candidates would have until March 19 to submit their applications.
“I’d like to think that we would attract attention from the surrounding areas,” Behnke said. “We’ll see how many applications we’ll get from comparably sized schools or possibly aspiring principals who want to move up one notch.”
The board would then meet March 24 to discuss the applicants. The first round of interviews would take place April 7-8, and the second round on April 14, with a final decision expected April 21.
The board spent a considerable amount of time discussing whether the new administrator would be required to live within the school district.
Bonduel resident Jerry Mauck said Behnke’s replacement should live in the district.
“We’ve got five- and six-figure salaries going outside of the district, and nobody has no skin in the process,” Mauck said. “We think this is a function the board should handle and get a policy set up.”
Gov. Scott Walker eliminated local residency requirements when the Wisconsin Legislature approved the 2013-15 biennial budget bill, so the board cannot demand the administrator live locally, Behnke said, but board members can ask candidates whether they plan to live in the district.
Board member Kara Skarlupka said encouraging a new administrator to live in the area should not be a problem.
“If the superintendent is living in this district and paying taxes in this district, he’s helping to bring the base up,” Skarlupka said. “He is involved with our district and community.”
Board president Jay Krull suggested offering a higher salary to someone willing to live within the district; Mauck suggested a lower salary for someone who doesn’t want to move to the district.
Board member Dennis Bergsbaken expressed concern that making residency a factor could potentially cheat the district out of the best possible candidate.
“The right person could save us more money than what we’d lose adding to their wage (for residency),” Bergsbaken said.
A salary range was not determined, as board members wanted to keep their options open. Behnke’s salary is $124,388.