Parkview chooses new principal
Photo 
Steve Lutzke
ORFORDVILLE — The Parkview School District is on its way to having two new faces on its administrative team next fall.
The school board will vote Monday night to approve the hiring of a new high school principal.
The board interviewed three candidates in closed session this week and has a verbal offer accepted by Bill Trow, an assistant principal at Guilford High School in Rockford, Ill.
The two other finalists out of 39 applicants were Scott Everson, assistant principal at Elkhorn Area High School, and Kellie Manning, principal of Washington Elementary in Waupun.
The vacancy is available because Steve Lutzke, high school principal and co-superintendent, will move one door down to become superintendent. Patrick Kennedy, the other co-superintendent, will retire.
The changes take effect July 1.
Trow visited the district this week and met with Lutzke, who said he would be excited to have Trow come on board.
"(He) spent a good hour with me," he said. "I'm more convinced after that hour that he's the right guy for the job."
The district will see another administrative change for the next school year in the elementary schools. Gloria Yaun will retire July 1 as principal of Orfordville Elementary and Newark Elementary schools.
Her replacement might not play the same role, however, because the position might be redefined depending on the chosen candidate, Lutzke said. Yaun's replacement will remain the Orfordville Elementary principal, but the position might be assigned other duties, such as curriculum director, he said. If that occurred, Footville Elementary Principal Mark Miller would assume the Newark Elementary principal role, he said.
A screening committee has narrowed the field of 55 applicants for the elementary principal position to seven candidates to interview on Tuesday and Wednesday, Lutzke said. The committee will recommend two or three finalists to the school board, which will interview them on March 30.
The board likely would offer a contract to a candidate that week.
Mar 14, 2009 at 2:50 a.m.
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I don't know the inner-workings of the school and it's Admin staff, but I have met with Principal Lutzke. I believe he has a sincere desire to help these kids, and his attitude is one of new style and old fashioned quality.
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So, I think he'll do good as the superintendent. Hope the next person has that passion for the kids. Unfortunately, I only get to see the 'boss' when one of the kids has been out of line. I can tell that the Principal and the teachers have their hands tied with today's style of teaching, parenting, and administrating--all thrown into the mix.
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There is more to things than most people realize. I agree that sometimes the musical chairs keeps people from settling in though. It just takes time-sometimes! Keep up the good work in Orfy!
Mar 13, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
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Many people have been on the board and tried to change things .. and met wall after wall.. I say scrap the entire school board and start over.
Mar 13, 2009 at 2:56 p.m.
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Its nice to see all of you cutting our schools down. But it is not surprising that we don't see any of you running for the school board. You really should sounds like some of you have all the answers. Most of the time there is not even a full ballot for the election. So run for the board and fix things or stop complaining.
Mar 13, 2009 at 2:37 p.m.
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He is going to have his hands full! That town runs everyone out that doesn't do it they way they want. I've seen happen to coaches, teachers and admins.
GOOD LUCK!
Mar 13, 2009 at 2:20 p.m.
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I would say that leadership both from the office of the superintendent and the school board has been suspect, if not completely lacking, for a long time. Look at the long line of "good old boy" bozos who have held the title of superintendent. The last person to have a handle on the situation was Don Albright and that was because he was an excellent educator who had given a lifetime of dedicated service to the district. He cared and was involved in every aspect of what was best for the school district and the community.
Mar 13, 2009 at 11:56 a.m.
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With the rate of our school districts taxes now and the shape of the economy what it is, good luck on getting the voters to OK a new school. If they build a new school there will be scores of houses for sale because no one will be able to afford the taxes to live here. If anything they should be closing the money pit they call Newark school and use that money to better the school district. Just the money that is spent to haul meals down to the school daily crazy. The amount of money spent just to keep 20 some kids there while if you live in Orfordville you have to bus your youngest kids to Footville? There are more issues than just the revolving door for the principals position.
Mar 13, 2009 at 10:12 a.m.
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Make no mistake about it, the problems in this district definitely travel on a two way street.
Mar 13, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.
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I have known Bill Trow for years.. He is a excellent choice and will work hard for Parkview.It would be nice if the district worked with him as well.
Mar 13, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
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This school district is so screwed up. One school has a revolving door on their principal's office because the person sitting in that office changes almost every year and each new one is less suited and capable of doing the job than the one who came before them. When are the people in this district going to step in and take an active role in the education of their children. We have to realize that every administrator that we get is using this district as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. The had better find someone to lead their district that is willing to become a true part of the community like Harlin Higgins and Don Albright did. Someone who will build a strong alliance with staff and the communities of this district and be in the fight for the long haul. They once had a district that was well run and the education that their children got was second to none. In days gone by, you could not find a stronger, more committed faculty. Now outside of the Footville and Newark buildings, I do not see that level of commitment on a district wide basis. We need a new high school and an upgrade in our curriculum to keep kids from bolting our district for other districts that can fullfill their achedemic and co-curricular needs. The bomb that will blow this district up is ticking very loudly and we had better find a solution to our problems before it blows up right in our faces.
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