By Jolene FarleyTodd Holthaus, Waite Park, begins duties this fall as elementary principal for the Hills-Beaver Creek School District. The School Board voted unanimously on the recommendation of Personnel Committee member Gary Esselink, to hire Holthaus for the position. "We narrowed it down to four individuals," Esselink said.Personnel Committee members Esselink, Ann Boeve and Al Harnack interviewed the four candidates on Saturday, July 26. Last year, Holthaus worked at St. Cloud Christian School as kindergarten- through 12th-grade principal. "He brings some experience to the job," said Esselink. "He really wants to get back to the elementary (level)."Holthaus is an experienced grant writer and sat on a legislative committee that approves grants, according to Esselink. Holthaus replaces Jil Vaughn who worked as elementary administrator for the district last year. Vaughn will return to her former position as speech teacher.
