Outgoing area superintendents rejected for multiple positions

Multiple outgoing area superintendents have been rejected for multiple new positions over the past several weeks, as school districts look to name their next superintendents before July 1.
Some of those candidates have been competing against each other.
Triton Superintendent Craig Schlichting, who is retiring from the school district after over a three-decade career with the district, was rejected for the open Kenyon-Wannamingo position last week.
The opening for the part time position came following Beth Giese being named the next Kasson-Mantorville superintendent.
Schlichting was also passed over for the Pine Island position following a first round interview. He previously told the DCI those would be the two positions he would be applying for due to the location compared to his home.
Meanwhile, outgoing Kasson-Mantorville Superintendent Ted Ihns, who is leaving the school district after less than one year into a three-year contract, was rejected for the Pine Island job on Monday after being named one of two finalists.
Barry Schmidt, the current superintendent of Jackson County Central was hired over Ihns.
Former long-time Kasson-Mantorville Superintendent Mark Matuska, who abruptly left before the 2022-2023 school year, is the current high school principal for the district.
A text message Monday night asking if he would be pursuing the JCC opening went unreturned.
Byron’s superintendent Dr. Mike Neubeck will be replaced by the current Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Superintendent Nath Walbruch.
Neubeck and Ihns were named semifinalists, but neither were called back for a second interview.
St. James Area Public Schools also named Neubeck as a semifinalist and is expected to name its next superintendent Friday.
Hayfield’s Gregg Slaathaug will be the only Dodge County superintendent returning for his eighth year with the district beginning July 1.