Five finalists named for superintendent job

Five finalists for the Red Wing School District superintendent position were announced in a special meeting of the school board Thursday night.

They are:

Karsten Anderson, current superintendent of Watertown-Mayer School District.

•13 years superintendent experience (10 at Watertown-Mayer, 3 at Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley)

•1 year principal experience (St. Clair)

•3 years teaching experience

Catherine Bettino, current superintendent of Pine-River Backus School District.

•7 years superintendent experience (all at Pine River-Backus)

•4 years principal experience (all at Pine River-Backus)

•13 years teaching experience

Virginia Dahlstrom, current superintendent of Wadena-Deer Creek School District.

•3 years superintendent experience (all at Wadena-Deer Creek)

•2 years principal experience (Indianhead International School)

•25 years teaching experience

Robert Laney, current assistant superintendent of St. Louis Park School District.

•4 years assistant superintendent experience (all at St. Louis Park)

•20 years principal or assistant principal experience (17 at St. Louis Park, 3 at Hudson)

Christine Weymouth, current assistant superintendent of Farmington School District.

•11 years superintendent or assistant superintendent experience (3 at Farmington, 1 at Howard Suamico, 7 at Edina)

•10 years principal or associate principal experience (3 at Farmington, 4 at Valley View, 2 at Omro, 1 at West Salem)

•5 years teaching experience.

A total of 37 applications for the position were received. The board's personnel subcommittee originally chose six finalists, but one finalist withdrew Thursday morning.

Three applications were delayed in the mail because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, board chairwoman Heidi Jones said. But, because they were post-marked before or on the Jan. 14 application deadline, she said they felt they had to accept them.

The board was expecting to receive about 20 applications for the position. Jones said she is "really pleased" at the higher turnout.

"It speaks well for the community and the district," she said.

First-round interviews for the finalists will take place Feb. 2 and 3, where the candidates will be narrowed down to two. Second-round interviews will be Feb. 15 and 16.