By Lori Ehde
Luverne Middle School Principal Dave Deragisch signed a contract Tuesday with the Hills-Beaver Creek School District for the superintendent position there starting in January.
He'll fill the position vacated by Tom Knoll, who left the district this spring after eight years at the helm.
Deragisch's contract was signed for $79,000 per year and will be prorated this year since he's starting in January, in the middle of the school year.
Considering he grew up in Hills area (graduating from H-BC in 1979), and considering it's a career advancement with an increase in salary, accepting the position is a homecoming of sorts for Deragisch.
"I taught there for five years, and my dad (Dean) was principal there from 1958 to 1973," he said Tuesday. "This is a chance for me to become a superintendent without having to move my family. It was an opportunity I couldn't resist."
Deragisch also said an uncertain future in Luverne made the decision easier.
"I'd been told on more than one occasion that the job I have now will be different next year," he said. "There will be either more duties or more grade levels."
Deragisch told his Middle School staff Monday morning he would decide that night on H-BC's offer.
That afternoon, teachers and support staff called an emergency meeting to discuss the impact of Deragisch's departure on the district.
Many were quick to praise Deragisch's one-on-one rapport with students, but Chris Nowatzki, who conducted the meeting, said the district's concerns go beyond Deragisch.
"We're looking at the position," said Nowatzki, who serves as the teachers' rights chairman on the Luverne Education Association.
He reminded the nearly 100 teachers and support staff assembled in the Little Theatre that last spring, the board had considered not filling the elementary principal's position when Melody Tenhoff indicated she might leave the district.
The board at that time entertained the notion of moving Deragisch to elementary principal and he and High School Principal Gary Fisher would absorb the middle school principal duties.
"Our current administrators aren't going to embrace more work. Who of us will?" Nowatzki said Monday.
"They say the ball is in Dave's court, but they threw it to him. We may be jumping the gun here because we don't know that they're cutting the position. But that discussion is why Dave was looking [to leave] in the first place."
Teachers say many students - especially at the middle school level - are falling through the cracks as it is, and they fear the loss of a middle school principal will jeopardize students at a vulnerable age.
"I just feel like we are going 10 years backward," said middle school teacher Mary Jo Graphenteen.
At Monday's meeting, teachers and staff were encouraged to get involved with public process and to solicit community involvement.
"We need to be a more integral part of the decision-making process, especially where it affects us," said middle school teacher Elizabeth Petersen.
"We have to start going to the School Board to make them accountable as a group for decisions that are made or not made.
"...The public needs to start looking at the agenda and coming to the meetings and being more vigilant."
Luverne Superintendent Vince Schaefer didn't attend Monday's meeting, but he acknowledged discussion last spring about reducing administrative time to save money.
"They are jumping to conclusions about decisions that have not been made," Schaefer said Monday.
"We have time to plan. Dave will be here through Dec. 31. I would welcome opportunities for input from staff, and a variety of options will be entertained."
He said Deragisch left on his own accord. "As a superintendent it's pretty hard for me to stand in the way of anyone wanting to better themselves," he said.
"A lot of us have had opportunities and have had to make decisions. He's been good for our school and our community... But he's got a nice package there. If that's what he wants to do, I don't begrudge him going."
Deragisch's contract in Luverne isn't due to expire until the end of this school year. He has been with Luverne since July 1993 and currently earns $77,947.
That salary includes compensation for other duties such as middle school counselor and middle school activities director.
Deragisch declined to comment on whether his children will attend school in Hills-Beaver Creek, but he said they will continue to live in Luverne.
Luverne School Board members have verbally indicated they will release Deragisch from his contract but will formally consider his resignation at their Oct. 11 meeting.