Still no answer from 2nd candidate

Chuck Kajer, Managing Editor

It's been a week, but the New Prague Area Schools have still not received an answer from superintendent candidate Larry Guggisberg.

Guggisberg, superintendent in the Roseau School District in northern Minnesota, was offered the position of New Prague Superintendent of schools last week, after Glenn Chiodo, superintendent in Park Rapids, turned down the offer. Guggisberg was the second choice of the school board and was offered the job on Tuesday, July 18.

At Monday's school board meeting, Board Chair Dan Carlson told board members that he had spoken with Guggisberg over the weekend and he expected to hear back from him by noon on Tuesday. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Carlson still had not heard back from him.

According to Carlson, Guggisberg was in New Prague over the weekend visiting the city and looking at real estate.

If Guggisberg accepts the offer, then a negotiation process will begin to determine a contract. Nothing will be finalized until a contract is signed.

If Guggisberg turns down the offer, board members agreed that it would be offered to the board's No. 3 choice, Roger Graff, superintendent/high school principal in Adrian.

According to the Fergus Falls Daily Journal, Guggisberg had been a finalist, one of two candidates chosen for a second interview in Fergus Falls last week, but he turned down the interview on Monday.

Check The New Prague Times website, www.newpraguetimes.com, for updates on this story.