N-O To Interview Superintendent Candidates This Week

For the second time in as many months, Neligh-Oakdale will attempt to hire a superintendent. 

After failing to hire anyone last month, the Neligh-Oakdale Board of Education will select it second batch of finalists this week. According to the public notices, the Neligh-Oakdale Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1, to review candidates. No public input will be received, and the board may go into closed session during the meeting.

They plan to interview candidates on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 3-4, in the board room. They will have social time with a candidate at 5:30 p.m. with a formal interview to follow. The notice states the board could have a second interview the same night with another candidate. The public may attend the social time and interview; however, no public input will be received.

This is the second superintendent search by Neligh-Oakdale fill the superintendent position. In December, Neligh-Oakdale chose three candidates to interview, but one withdrew himself from consideration the day finalists were announced. The other two candidates interviewed Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. 

On Dec. 16, the Board of Education approved action to begin negotiating with "Candidate G" with the ability to negotiate with "Candidate F" if an agreement was not reached. On Dec. 17, the Board announced it was unable to successfully negotiate with either candidate and would reopen the search.

According to Shari Becker, Director of Education Leadership Search Service with the Nebraska Association of School Boards, there were seven candidates during the previous search. No number has been released on the number of candidates this time around.

Bill Kuester is currently serving as interim superintendent at Neligh-Oakdale. Kimberly Lingenfelter was the previous superintendent and is now serving in the same capacity in Cherokee, Iowa. Kuester's contract runs through June 30, 2016, with a salary of $122,000. Lingenfelter was paid $115,00 in 2014-15, $112,000 in 2013-14 and $105,000 the previous two years.