Klooz resigns; search underway for interim CCS superintendent

    The CCS board of education’s assertion last week that Randy Klooz was still the school superintendent was short-lived.
    A 20-minute meeting Friday morning ended Klooz’s brief tenure at Chase County Schools after he resigned.
    All nine board members voted yes on the resignation agreement with Klooz, who started his second year as school superintendent this fall.
    Before they voted and after a 10-minute closed session, Board President Jeff Olsen read Klooz’s short resignation letter: “I hereby resign my employment at Chase County Schools, effective immediately.”
    No reasons were listed.
    Olsen said he would not reveal the contents of the agreement the board made with Klooz or any specific details.
    After consulting with the board’s attorney, Olsen did say Monday there was a financial settlement with Klooz as part of the agreement. However, since it’s below the $50,000 figure at which public bodies must release the agreement details, the dollar amount will not be released.
    “But it is considerably less than the $50,000 limit,” he said.
    Klooz’s salary for 2019-20 was set at $145,000. He was hired in January 2018, starting his first year that fall.
    The board issued the following statement after Friday’s meeting:
    “The Board of Education of Chase County Schools met this morning to accept Randy Klooz’s resignation as superintendent of schools. Although Mr. Klooz has many strengths as a school superintendent, he and the board had differing visions for the future of the Chase County Schools District. The Board of Education wishes Mr. Klooz the best in his future endeavors.”
    The statement went on to say the board plans to secure an interim superintendent for the rest of this school year, and search for a permanent replacement for 2020-21.
    Olsen said they have some names of potential interim superintendents, and two interviews were already set up for Wednesday this week.
    The board is working with attorney Karen Hasse of Lincoln and Shari Becker, Director of Education Leadership Search Service with the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).
    If a candidate is found, Olsen said a special meeting may have to be set to approve a contract with the interim for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. The board’s next regular meeting is Nov. 12.
    The board will likely start a search in January for a fulltime superintendent who would start July 1, 2020, Olsen said.
    The original agenda posted for Friday’s special meeting did not include anything on Klooz’s resignation agreement. That item was added to the agenda Wednesday afternoon.
Bookkeeping position
    The original agenda item for Friday’s meeting included only the bookkeeping position vacated last week by Jon Anderjaska of Palisade.
    Olsen said Friday he and board member Karl Meeske were informed by Anderjaska Oct. 10 that Oct. 11 would be his last day.
    After advertising started last week, Olsen said Friday three applications had been received for the job. Plans were to get started scheduling interviews this week. The two principals, two to three board members and Jill Mays, who works in the business office, will be involved in the interviews.
    Olsen said they’d like the bookkeeping position filled by the end of the month.