Stroeing to fill board vacancy

Acting to accept the resignation of Pat Brown as a member of the Blackduck School Board, the board asked former member Robert Stroeing to fill the seat for the remaining 15 months of Brown's term. Stroeing accepted and will be sworn in at the board's next regular meeting, Oct. 12.

Board members agreed on Stroeing in view of his nine years previous service on the board. The action is also in accordance with a recommendation of the Minnesota School Boards Association on filling short-term vacancies. The association urges that persons with prior board experience represent a substantial cost saving in training and workshop attendance for new members.

Stroeing is a cattleman and over-the-road trucker, making late-night runs hauling mail from post office collections. He served two terms on the Blackduck board, the first, a five year term occasioned by a change in election dates and then a regular four-year term.

In accepting the appointment as Brown's successor, Stroeing stressed he is not seeking re-election and doesn't intend to run.

"When I was told I could help during this time when the district faces a lot of problems and that this would save the district the expense of training a replacement, I agreed to serve for the next 15 months," he said. "Besides, with a student attending school, I've got a sort of vested interest."

In addition to naming Brown's replacement, the board approved naming Kari Slindee as assistant drama coach and agreed to a request from the Kelliher School District to join the cooperative track team with Blackduck, Northome and Indus.

In other developments, negotiations on new contracts for teachers, staff and drivers remained under discussion.