By Eileen Persike, Editor

Rhinelander Schools superintendent Kelli Jacobi announced earlier this year she is retiring in June, 2020. To help find Jacobi’s replacement, the school board went back to a familiar source, voting to hire consultant Bruce Miles of the Big River Group in Minnesota.

“He involves community, he involves staff, he’s very involved himself ,” said board president Ron Counter.

Miles provided the board with a five step plan for the process, which begins with identifying goals and a desired skill set through a retreat session with the board and meetings with community members, district staff and the administration team. A score sheet will be created to reflect the chosen goals and skills, followed by sorting and selecting four candidates, emailing questions, schedules interviews and ends with selection of a finalist and closing the deal.

“For the members who were not here the last time around, Bruce Miles has been doing this for a very long time and is very professional,” said board member David Holperin. “He’s in contact with a lot of superintendents who are on the move…he can provide a lot of insight along with guidance.”

Big River’s consultant services are expected to cost the district between $16,000 to $18,000.

Other business
• The board approved the purchase of 500 Chromebooks to replace iPads in the kindergarten through grade two classrooms in the district, 27 charging carts and licensing at a cost of $197,037.
• A RHS student trip to Spain in 2021 with Spanish teacher Mara Krueger was given the okay and students approved to raise funds for the trip expected to cost between $3,800-$4,200 per student.
• The Maintenance Department will be replacing two trucks with a pair of Chevy Silverados from Rhinelander GM at a cost of $26,700 per truck, including the plow assembly for each truck.