by Eileen Persike
The Port Washington High School principal is the leading candidate to become the next School District of Rhinelander (SDR) Superintendent.
A series of interviews for three finalists for the job was held Tuesday. During a closed session meeting, the school board offered two candidates a second interview, according to consultant Bruce Miles of the Big River Group.
Eric Burke accepted, the other candidate declined, Miles said. Interviewed were Maggie Peterson, SDR director of learning support, Pat Devine, superintendent at Waconia School District in Minnesota and Burke of Port Washington.
During the public interview session held in the tiered classroom at Rhinelander High School, a large crowd consisting mostly of SDR staff submitted questions for the candidates to answer. Questions centered on engagement strategies, communication, leadership and organization styles, how to increase student achievement and test scores, recruitment and retention of staff, opinions on Advanced Placement and weighted classes, and how each candidate would make the district stronger and a “destination” district.
During his interview, Burke said having a long-range financial plan and strong staff are the top issues he sees for the district and ones that will bring continued success. “In order to be a destination place, teachers are so important to that happening, and the leaders that are in the buildings, so we need to look at how we retain teachers and how we recruit teachers.” He added that he wanted to “stress how much he believes in the school district’s potential.” “What I hear about and what I’ve read about, and what you’ve been able to do the last ten years is a lot, but I think there is still room for growth,” Burke said. “Talk about open enrollment, staffing and those kinds of things…and encouraging and expecting the very best from everybody is the way we’re going to get better.”
After he was finished answering questions, Burke turned the tables on the audience, and asked those in attendance a few questions. The school board will hold a second interview for Burke at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.
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Wednesday morning, WXPR spoke with school board president Ron Counter.
The field has been narrowed to one primary candidate to be the next School District of Rhinelander superintendent.
The three finalists included Maggie Peterson, School District of Rhinelander Director of Learning Support, Eric Burke, Principal at Port Washington High School, and Patrick Devine, Superintendent at Waconia School District in Minnesota.
Following public sessions Tuesday, school board president Ron Counter said they have narrowed the choice....
"Each of the finalists interviewed with the community, teachers, administrators and then the board itself. After the final interview the board met and a second interview was offered to the principal at Port Washington..."
Counter says Eric Burke will return next week for a second interview next Tuesday and anticipates the board will make a decision that night on the position. Counter says he was please with the public turnout...
"The board was very grateful for the amount of support from the community and the teachers and administrators. There were close to 60 people at one time..."
Burke began teaching in the Port Washington-Saukville School district in the 1995-96 school year. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from UW-Stevens Point in 1992, a Master’s Degree from UW-Milwaukee in 2000 and Superintendent certification from UW-Milwaukee in 2015. He's been the principal at the high school since 2011.
