Author Archives: L4C

Dr. Michael J. Thomas selected as the new superintendent of PLSAS

Unanimous decision from school board in favor of Dr. Michael J. Thomas.

It’s going to be a nail-biter.

As the interview process comes to a close for the last finalist in the search for a new superintendent to lead Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, stakeholders wait anxiously for a board decision. Will the board select Dr. Ben Barton of Princeton Public Schools? Dr. Barton completed his 2nd interview last Friday, April 29 following a tour of district buildings and conversations with teachers and staff. Will the board select Dr. Michael J. Thomas of Colorado Springs District 11? Dr. Thomas had his 2nd interview, tour of district buildings and conversations with teachers and staff today, May 2. School board deliberations begin today shortly after Dr. Thomas’ interview, and will be held at the District Services Center at 6 pm. If the board decides that neither candidate is the right fit for the district, they have the option to ask the search firm, BWP and Associates, to find additional candidates to present.

Michael Thomas, 2nd Interview Scheduled for tomorrow.

Michael J. Thomas of Colorado Springs District 11 will return for a 2nd interview at 4 pm tomorrow at District Services Center.

The VERDICT is in.

The board announced their decision on the two candidates who will be returning for building tours, conversations with district leaders and a second interview. Ben Barton of Princeton School District is scheduled to interview tomorrow, April 29 at 4pm at the District Services Center. Michael Thomas of Colorado Springs District 11 is scheduled to interview on May 2 at 4pm at the District Services Center. Final deliberations will follow on May 2 at 6pm to decide if one of these two candidates will be named the new superintendent of PLSAS. School Board deliberations can be viewed here. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! (And they should, too) Contact us and the school board with the links below.

SCHOOL BOARD IN DELIBERATION

This evening, the final two candidates were interviewed, Efe Agbamu of St. Paul Public Schools and Ben Barton of Princeton School District. The school board members will take time to finalize their individual notes on all four candidates and come back into session to deliberate on what two candidates will be invited back for a second interview. The session to determine the two finalists will be open to the public and the candidates will be notified tonight. All recorded interviews will be available to the public tomorrow to view.

First two candidates interviewed.

Yesterday, the first interviews were held at the District Services Center for two of the four candidates chosen by BWP and Associates. Michael J. Thomas, of Colorado Springs District 11 was interviewed first, followed by Steve Troen of Minnesota District 196. The applicants were asked 14 questions by school board members and were allowed to ask the board questions before concluding. Each applicant was given 75 minutes to complete the interview and will find out if they were chosen to return for a second interview sometime next week. Efe Agbamu of St. Paul Public Schools and Ben Barton of Princeton School District will be interviewed tomorrow at 3:00 and 4:15pm at the District Services Center in Prior Lake. The public is welcome to quietly attend. For more information on these candidates, see the previous post “Superintendent Search Update.”