Superintendent interviews commence for District 361

The interviews are open to the public.

Interim Superintendent Kevin Grover did not submit an application for the position and is not a candidate, according to Sue Karsnia of the superintendent’s office. At this time, Grover plans to return to the position of dean of students at Falls High School, she said. Grover was mentored for the superintendent role by serving in a channel of positions including dean of students as well as assistant superintendent, under the previous administration of Don Langan. Grover’s previous position with the district is protected under contract.

Three of the four people who applied for the superintendent position will be interviewed in person at Falls High School, Karsnia said.

Each interview will be conducted in two parts. The candidates will first be interviewed by the Falls School Board, and will then be interviewed by a community committee. The names of those serving on the community committee had not been finalized at this writing.

Below are the names of the three candidates who will be interviewed for the position of superintendent for District 361; interview times, dates and locations at Falls High School; and a brief overview of each.

Jeffrey Peura

5 p.m. Today

Falls High School library

(Second Floor, two-part interview )

Peura is the superintendent and K-12 principal for District 2580, East Central Schools, serving the Minnesota communities of Sandstone, Askov, Bruno and Kerrick. He has been employed by that district since 2006.

Prior to that, Peura was the superintendent of the LaPorte School District 306 (two years), and the Evansville School District 208.

Peura has licensing credentials for the positions of superintendent, K-12 principal, elementary teacher for grades one through six, and coaching. Several years ago, he was a teacher at District 363’s Indus and Northome schools.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth; his master’s degree from Bemidji State University, his principal’s license at Minnesota State University, Mankato; and his superintendent’s license at the University of Moorhead.

Steve Swartout

5 p.m. Monday

(Board interview in FHS library, to be followed by community committee interview in Room No. 130, home ec)

Swartout is employed at the Omaha Department of Health and Human Services in Nebraska.

Previously, Swartout was the principal at Fort Defiance School in Arizona. Prior to that, he was principal and technology director at Hamburg Community Schools in Hamburg, Iowa.; and principal and graduation standards technician at Wauben-Ogema Schools.

Swartout is a licensed superintendent, but has not served in that capacity.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion; his master’s degree at the University of Nebraska, Omaha; and his superintendent’s licensure at Wayne State in Nebraska.

Kevin Abrahamson

5 p.m. Monday

(Community committee interview in FHS Room No. 130 (home ec), to be followed by Falls School Board interview at 6:45 p.m. in FHS library)

Abrahamson has been with District 2142 in administrative positions since 2000.

District 2142 encompasses the largest geographical school district in the state of Minnesota; and includes seven K-12 school buildings located at Orr, Cook, Tower-Soudan, Babbitt-Embarrass, Cherry, Cotton, and AlBrook.

Abrahamson is the K-12 principal for the Cook and Orr schools in St. Louis County.

Abrahamson is a high school graduate of the Orr School. He earned an associate degree from Rainy River Community College; a bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota, Duluth; a master’s degree from Bemidji State University; and superintendent’s and principal’s licensure at the University of Wisconsin, Superior.