Superintendent
Bemidji Area Schools
Bemidji Area Schools is located in north central Minnesota and serves the communities of Bemidji, Becida, Cass Lake, Laporte, Puposky, and Solway. The District covers 825 square miles and is proud of its comprehensive PreK-12 educational programming.
Additional Points of Pride include:
High School named as one of the nation’s best high schools by U.S. News & World Report
Bemidji High School Career Academics
Award-winning show choir and music programs
Nationally-competitive academic achievement scores
Numerous state championships in sports
Gene Dillon Elementary School with inclusive playground and STEAM programming
Gold Award of Distinction for healthier school meal programs - serves over 1 million meals every year
Robust fine arts programs
Award-winning robotics programs
State-of-the-art high school and performing arts center
Successful community education, early childhood, and life-long enrichment programs
Neighborhood elementary schools
Excellent Career & Tech Ed programs
The school district operates its own food service program as well as transportation services.
By the Numbers
Student enrollment: 4,933
Licensed staff members: 378
Non-licensed staff members: 454
Principals/Assistant Principals: 9 FTE/4 FTE
Full-time Central Office staff: 6 FTE
District buildings maintained: 16
About the Communities
The Bemidji area is a renowned regional health
care, retail and educational center, large enough to be convenient yet small enough to be comfortable. Paved bike trails skirt Lake Bemidji and connect to downtown and Lake Bemidji State Park, while Native American and Scandinavian culture weave together. Additional highlights of the area include:
Higher education institutions of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College
Statue of the legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and Babe his Blue Ox, named one of the “Best in the Midwest” Roadside Attractions in 2003
First City built on the Mississippi River, and offers a rich and diverse cultural heritage with many intriguing family activities
History, legend and lore mingle with abundant bald eagles and waterways to endlessly explore
400 fishing lakes, plus biking, hiking, skiing and snowmobiling in the nearby National Forests
Home to www.218relocate.com - check it out!
Search Timeline
Announce Vacancy: February 21, 2022
Application Deadline: March 28, 2022
Applicant Screening: March 29-April 4, 2022
First Round Interviews: April 11 and 12, 2022
Second Round Interviews: April 21, 2022
Approve Contract: May 2, 2022
Superintendent Begins: July 1, 2022
Leadership Profile
The Bemidji Area School Board seeks a superintendent who:
Acts with honesty and in an ethical manner with the School Board, staff, and community
Develops and directs an effective leadership team
Has knowledge of and experience with equity leadership challenges and opportunities
Works cooperatively with the School Board; provides options and recommendations
Effectively mediates and accommodates different perspectives; values teamwork
Develops trust and works collaboratively with diverse groups of stakeholders
Is visible and accessible to the School Board, staff, students, parents, and community
Previous superintendent experience preferred, but not required.
Salary and Benefits
The current superintendent’s base salary for the 2021-2022 school year is $170,000. The final salary will be negotiated commensurate with experience and qualifications. The contract length is negotiable as provided in Minnesota statute.
Screening Team
A team from the Minnesota School Boards Association’s Executive Search Service (MSBA) has been selected to assist the School Board in securing and screening applicants. The search team will be led by Lee Warne, MSBA Service Provider. online application process. Applicants begin the application process at mnmsba.myrevelus.com . To be considered for this position, an applicant’s completed file must be received by MSBA prior to 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2022. Contact Lee Warne at 507-828-2468 (lwarne@mnmsba.org) with questions. Please mark any correspondence and/or envelopes “Bemidji Area Schools Superintendent Search.”
Applicants are requested not to contact school board members.
Bemidji Area Schools is an equal opportunity employer. The MSBA Executive Search Service is an equal opportunity search agency.