Board Begins Negotiations With Superintendent Candidate

After two days of interviews for the new superintendent, the Neligh-Oakdale Board of Education took action Tuesday to begin negotiating with “Candidate F.”

Aaron Plas, assistant principal at York Public Schools, and Mark S. Smith, principal at Plattsmouth Public Schools, were the only candidates to interview for the position. A third candidate was selected from the seven applications but withdrew from consideration about two hours after being announced as a finalist last Friday.

The board met in executive session Tuesday following the interview with Smith to discuss his weaknesses and to possibly begin negotiations with a candidate. After reconvening publicly, the board read comments made from staff members and various groups about the two candidates. 

Board president David Wright then asked for someone to flip a coin and make the decision on who to select.

“I like Mark’s straight forwardness, but I also like the way Aaron is the fact that he makes lists. It means he’s driven, he’s got goals, he’s oriented, he’s going somewhere,” Wright said before chuckling. “So, whichever one you guys want to pick. Who is going to flip the coin and make the decision?”

Vice president Brad Higgins, who has served on the board for nearly six years and is the only member to have been through a superintendent search previously, stepped up to lead the board with a selection. He motioned that the president “begin negotiations with Candidate F.” Member Krista Schindler seconded, and “Candidate F” was unanimously selected.

Higgins later made a second motion for negotiations with “Candidate G” to begin if an agreement with “Candidate F” is not reached. 

The Board of Education will announce who “Candidate F” is once a verbal commitment is reached with that candidate to become superintendent. ​