Byron selects 5 semi-finalists for superintendent, OKs fall levy

Five semi-finalists for the superintendent position at Byron Public Schools were chosen Monday night during a special board meeting. At an earlier regular board meeting Monday, the board gave their official okay to having an operating levy referendum in November.

The semi-finalists to be interviewed this week are:

Dr. Steven Heil, Superintendent, St. James Public Schools

James Menton, Superintendent, BOLD Public Schools

Dr. Michelle Mortensen, Superintendent, Redfield Public Schools, S.D.

Abe Rodemeyer, Elementary Principal, Byron Public Schools

Nate Walbruch, Superintendent, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools

The semi-finalists were selected from a pool of 14 applicants based on criteria established by the school board, as well as survey input provided by Byron Public Schools staff and members of the public.

Interviews for the semi-finalists were scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, and 4 p.m. Thursday, March 27.

All interviews will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) at the Byron High School and are open to the public. To ensure a level playing field for all candidates the interviews will not be livestreamed or recorded.

Following the first-round interviews, the board will name those to be called back for second interviews scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1.

At the board’s regular meeting, scheduled immediately before the meeting to select semi-finalists, the board gave official approval to holding an operating levy referendum in the fall 2025 general election.

In a presentation to the board, Supt. Mike Neubeck reviewed the financial situation of the district and the need for an operating referendum.

At the end of the 2023-24 school year, the district made $1.6 million in adjustments to balance the budget for the 2024-25 school year. At that time the district’s Unassigned Fund Balance had dropped from 8% to less than 1%.

The board also approved an operating levy referendum in 2024 of $800 per student with inflationary increases for 10 years. That referendum would have raised approximately $1.9 million revenue each year. The referendum failed 58% to 42%.

In December 2024, Neubeck said, the district’s 2024-25 budget was confirmed to be balanced. However, because the referendum in November failed, Neubeck said, the board made another $1.6 million in adjustments to the 2025-26 budget. That budget, which resulted in staff reductions, higher class size at the elementary level, fewer counselors, reductions in supply budgets and reductions in activities and athletics, will be presented to the board in June.

Neubeck said that with the approximately $3.2 million in adjustments over the past two years the cuts have become significant in staffing and programming. Without a referendum this fall, he said, the district will need to continue to make adjustments each year to meet rising costs.

“There isn’t any low hanging fruit anymore,” Neubeck said. “We’re starting to cut off branches.”

Among the challenges facing the district, he said, is legislative funding for schools. It will increase by 2.74% in 2025-26 providing the schools with approximately $172,000. At the same time, he said, a decrease in enrollment is expected over the next several years, as well as increases in health insurance premiums, upcoming negotiations with five employee groups, a continuing need to get the Unassigned Fund Balance to meet the policy goal of 8%, possible unfunded mandates from the state and needs to upkeep capital needs and facility maintenance.

Neubeck added that most school districts are facing similar financial issues.

Neubeck said a steering committee has been formed with board members, administrators, a teacher and a parent that is working on developing a timeline, communications and involving stakeholders in the referendum.

He explained the committee was asking an official vote on the referendum now, so they could continue with their planning.