Mitchell Board of Education elects Flood as president, Ruml as vice president

MITCHELL — The Mitchell Board of Education reorganized Thursday night for the 2024-25 school year, electing new top leadership in the process.

Brittni Flood, who was elected to the board in 2021 and has served as vice president of the board in recent years, was elected as president of the board on a 3-2 vote over Terry Aslesen, the only other member nominated for the position. On the vote, Flood, Shawn Ruml and Deb Olson, who nominated Flood for the position, voted in favor of Flood, while Deb Everson and Aslesen voted for Aslesen.

Flood takes over the president position from Olson, who is beginning her 12th year on the board. She was happy to accept the nomination after having already been part of the leadership team, serving as vice president for the past two years.

“I thought it would be an interesting experience and open some doors for me to get out there and be a part of things a little more,” Flood said following the meeting. “I thought it would be good to step into the role since I had been here for three years.”

Olson, has served as president of the board for several years, including through some challenging times such as the recent public bond vote for the athletic facilities at the new high school complex and the COVID-19 outbreak.

She said her move from president to board member will allow her more time for other projects as well as give Flood expanded responsibilities and Ruml a chance to learn the ropes of the vice president position.

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“I think it’s exciting to see Brittni and Shawn have the opportunity to assume leadership on the board,” Olson said. “It’s not a one person deal, it’s all the members together. Brittni has certainly had her experience with three years already on the board now starting her fourth, and Shawn the same thing. I think it’s good for everyone to have an opportunity to assume a role like that.”

Taking a step back from the president role for the Mitchell Board of Education will allow her to give a little more time to other organizations she is a part of. With Flood and Ruml now leading the board of education, they will be able to give their full attention to the duties of president and vice president.

Olson has one more year left in her term on the board and said that as of Thursday, she plans to consider another term in 2025.

“There are already things that are calling, and that is part of it, too. I’m preparing to be president for another organization, and you can only do so much and do it well,” Olson said. “There are so many opportunities to serve in this community.”

In the vote for vice president of the board, Ruml received the only nomination and was approved by unanimous vote. Like Flood, he has served on the board since 2021. He will begin his first year in a leadership position on the board with his election Thursday night.

He said watching Olson and Flood work together over the years inspired him to take the plunge into expanding his role with the board despite some initial hesitation.

“I’d been hesitant (to seek a leadership role) just because my work schedule has been difficult to line up with,” Ruml said. “But with Brittni doing the presidency I feel like I can follow in her footsteps.”

Both Flood and Ruml were sworn in for their latest term of office earlier at the meeting as part of yearly business to serve another three year term, the second for both. They were the only two board members whose seats came up for election in 2024 and were both unopposed in their bids, so no election was necessary for their positions earlier this year.

Also at the meeting, the board approved the following personnel moves:

• The new certified hire of Olivia Thompson, speech pathologist, $57,000, effective the 2024-25 school year.
• The new classified hires of Campeo Irwin, paraeducator at Longfellow Elementary, $18.75 per hour, 7 hours daily; Kadie Capentier, paraeducator at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, $16 per hour, 7 hours daily; Shantel Schrank, paraeducator at Mitchell Middle School, $18.85 per hour, 7.25 hours daily; Kennedy Schilling, paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary, $16 per hour, 7 hours daily; Dallas Stults, paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary, $16 per hour, 7 hours daily; Kimberly Janzing, paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary, $20.25 per hour, 7 hours daily and Rochelle Wortman, paraeducator at Longfellow Elementary, $18.25 per hour, 7 hours daily. All new classified hires are effective Aug. 21.
• The resignation of Lisa Hurd, 8th grade ELA teacher, effective 2024-25 school year.
• The transfer of Jessica Phillips, paraeducator at L.B. Williams Elementary to computer aide at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary, effective 2024-25 school year.
• The new Mitchell Technical College hire of Wade Brozik, heating and cooling technology instructor, $70,000, effective Aug. 1

Also at the meeting, the board:

• Approved bids for two used coach buses from Davey Coach Sales, LLC for $148,386, broken down into $74,193 for each bus. Also submitting bids was Foreman, with one bus bidded at $103,396 and one at $74,995 for a total of $178,391.
• Approved several K-12 surplus items, including 10 bags of athletic turf rubber, 65 cement blocks, a Zetor system tractor loader, miscellaneous gates and two propane/natural gas heaters. A full list of surplus items can be found in the meeting agenda.
• Heard board member reports.
• Heard the superintendent report.
• Entered executive session. No action was taken upon return to open session.

The next meeting of the Mitchell Board of Education is scheduled for Aug. 12.