K-M board names Richards, Walsh as board nominees

Kasson-Mantorville’s School Board has named Angie Richards and Pat Walsh as candidates to replace Board Member Amy Olson who resigned earlier this month.
At Monday night’s board meeting Chair Mark Torkelson asked if there were nominees for individuals to serve as a member of the board until a special election is held in November. The board also passed a resolution officially declaring a vacancy on the board due to Olson’s resignation.
Board Member Eric Mesa nominated Richards and Board Member Kate Ryan nominated Walsh.
Richards is a former board member. She completed her term on the board in December and chose not to run for re-election. Walsh ran for a board position in November 2024.
Both Richards and Walsh said they would not run for the position in December.
The board has a meeting scheduled for March 3 to work out details for the interviews they will be doing later in in the month to find a replacement for Supt. Ted Ihns who is leaving the position at the end of the current school year.
A vote on a replacement for Olson is now scheduled for that meeting. Board members said they would seek input from district residents between now and the meeting and would be asking questions of each nominee at the meeting before making a selection.
The discussion and vote on the board member selection is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
In November, a special election will be held to choose a person who will serve out the remainder of Olson’s term. Olson was re-elected in November 2024.
Both Richards and Walsh said it is important to have a full board because of the decisions that will need to be made before a special election.
Board members are currently looking for a new superintendent and hope that a contract can be signed on April 7. K-M Elementary Principal Courtney Frie has been chosen as the superintendent of schools for the Plainview-Elgin-Millville district and will assume those duties July 1. Also on the board’s agenda for the coming months are budgets for the 2025-2026 school year and contract negotiations.