Marion Superintendent candidates: Finances, new programs among top challenges for Marion Independent

MARION - Managing a tight budget and dealing with changes in education and student demographics are among the top challenges to be faced by the next Marion Independent School District superintendent, two candidates for the position said Thursday.

The two finalists announced this week - Joseph Dyer of the Tuckahoe Common School District in Southampton, N.Y., and Michael Houselog of the Belvidere Community Unit School District No. 100 in Belvidere, Ill. - interviewed Thursday with the Marion school board, administrators, teachers, students, support staff and community members.

In the community interviews, five parents and businesspeople said they are looking for a clear vision from the new superintendent. Some said they are unclear on the district's long-term plans are now.

The district has been searching for a new superintendent since Superintendent Sarah Pinion announced her retirement in January. Pinion has led Marion schools since 2009. Her last day is June 30.

Dyer and Houselog both said they are interested in the Marion job because of its location, citing family connections. Dyer said he likes the somewhat closed-in nature of the Marion community. Houselog said he hopes to be closer to his family, including two children and his mother, who live in Iowa.

The candidates would bring a variety of experience to Marion. Dyer implemented a pre-kindergarten program and related professional development programs in his current district to help address deficiencies in young students' reading ability, he said.

'This is a national issue,” Dyer said. 'This is not just Tuckahoe.”

Houselog cited a dual-credit program with a college near his district - in which some students get a high school diploma and an associate's degree at the same time - as one successful initiative he has implemented. He also pointed to his leadership in the establishment of a STEM school and a dual-language program in Belvidere.

Both candidates said managing finances is among the top challenges schools will face in the next five years.

'As bad as things are in Iowa in school funding, it looks really, really good to me,” Houselog said, comparing Iowa's state funding for schools to Illinois.

Colette Atkins, a parent in the district, said finances have been a problem in Marion schools.

'We need to manage our money better to allow our kids to excel,” Atkins said. 'We're not doing that in this district.”

Dyer also said teacher burnout has been a problem in his district, in part because of New York's implementation of the Common Core and related teacher-evaluation measures.

Both candidates said they would spend the first part of their time as superintendent listening to community desires and concerns.

Houselog said he sensed an 'appetite” for trying new things from the interviews with district parents and businesspeople.

'Marion is in a position because of its size and because of the community to really do some great things educationally,” said Doreen Zumwalt, a Marion graduate and parent. 'I'm glad to hear that you're picking up (on that).”

Dyer and some of the businesspeople said schools also could work with businesses to provide career and technical education.

The school board was scheduled to meet in closed session Thursday night to interview and discuss the candidates. David Law, the board president, said this week that the board hoped to have a verbal commitment from a candidate Thursday night or Friday morning and announce the next superintendent Monday or Tuesday after the candidate has signed.