Grand Forks School Board Votes Unanimously To Seek Proposals From Consultants To Assist Superintendent Search

(KNOX) – The Grand Forks School Board voted unanimously Monday to seek proposals from consultants to assist with the district’s search for a new superintendent.

Superintendent Terry Brenner is retiring after this school year, and his last day will be on June 30, 2027. Brenner says it would cost between $20,000 and $50,000 to hire a consultant. School Board Member Jay Kleven believes an outside consultant should be hired.

The school district expects to receive bids from consultants by the end of next month. School Board Member Eric Lunn says that the district isn’t bound to accepting a proposal.

Grand Forks Public Schools leaders will start meeting in January with all types of school staff and community members to listen to what they want from the district’s next superintendent.

The School Board plans to receive applications by February and would start interviewing candidates in March. A group of final candidates will be chosen in March and another round of interviews will follow.

The new superintendent would be announced by April 1, and would officially start the job on July 1.

The Grand Forks School Board also heard a report at Monday’s school board meeting about the district’s Head Start program. This program specifically serves students who come from what’s described as economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Head Start is mostly funded by federal grant money, even though Head Start Director Tracey Johnson says the funding has been flat over the past three years. The district received over $3.1 million from the federal government for this school year, and less than $800,000 were from the district’s own funds. Head Start is funded for as many as 154 students in Grand Forks. 4-year-old students, homeless students, and children who are in foster care or on public assistance programs, or Supplemental Security Income are given enrollment priority for this program.

The Grand Forks School Board also approved a snow removal contract with a Grand Forks-based company. The district will pay Grass Guys $5,950 every time there is more than 2 inches of snow. Two other companies also submitted bids. Pro Land’s bid was $7,200 and Fert-L-Lawn’s was $11,430.94.