Superintendent Anne Lundquist resigns from Red Lake Schools

RED LAKE - At a Special School Board Meeting held on Thursday, February 23, 2017, Dr. Anne Lunquist, Superintendent of Red Lake Schools, directed a letter to Board Chairman Michael Barrett, stating she requested to resign from her position, along with requesting release from her new contract dated November 21, 2016.

"It has truly been a pleasure to serve Red Lake Nation the past three years," her letter stated, "and I must admit the decision to leave has been difficult. I have grown to love the staff, students and families in our district, and have truly enjoyed getting to know each of the board members. I consider you friends as well s colleagues, and will miss working with you."

The letter further stated that "the work we have accomplished together has set the stage for considerable gains in achievement, attendance, and graduation rates in the coming years."

After considerable discussion on the matter by the Board of Education, the vote went 4-0-1 to accept her resignation; board members Barrett, Nelson, Thomas and Stately voted 'yes' and Desjarlait abstained.

It was also decided that the new superintendent search would begin immediately

The School Board approved a 3-year contract in 2014 with Dr. Lundquist with her official start date set for July 1, 2014.

"We need better communications from everyone and we want to be able to keep the public informed on what we are doing all the time--" Chairman Barrett said in a meeting with Lundquist and Board Member Roy Nelson prior to her start date, "--and explain the reasons we are making some changes."

Some of Lundquist's ideas included public meetings and listening sessions that address the needs of the community and how everyone could work together to try and improve attendance and bring some of the kids back to Red Lake from other schools.

Of nine exceptional applicants, five of which were interviewed by the School Board for the Superintendent position, the Board voted in favor of offering a contract to Lundquist.

Of the five, three stood out and had different talents and quite possibly could have succeeded in leading the school district. Lundquist's experience in the area of school improvement was one of the things Barrett really admired about her the most.

Her last day with the district will be June 30, 2017, and although she wasn't looking for another job, one came her way and she decided to take it for personal reasons; she would be working with some people where she began her career at, in her home state of Iowa, and she would be closer to her mother where she could help take care of her.

Although it will be sad to see her go, especially with everything she has initiated for the district, Barrett understood and accepted it, along with other members of the board, and each wished her well in her new position.

The new superintendent search would begin as early as Friday, February 24, 2017, with the hopes of hiring a replacement before the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

Other items discussed at the meeting included the new graduation rates released by the state, and student eligibility in sports.