BURNSVILLE

Firm to aid search for new superintendentSchool Exec Connect has been selected as the firm to help the Burnsville School District find a superintendent to replace Randy Clegg, who is retiring after this school year.

School Exec Connect was picked from among three firms interviewed by the school board at its Jan. 3 meeting. The selection was unanimous.

The firm specializes in superintendent searches for suburban and regional districts. It conducted more than 40 national searches last year, including those for the Eden Prairie, West St. Paul and South Washington County school districts.

The school board said that four retired Minnesota superintendents will lead the search. They are Kenneth Dragseth, former Edina superintendent; Antoinette Johns, former superintendent in Brooklyn Center; Charles Kyte, former superintendent in Northfield and former executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, and Robert Ostlund, former superintendent of Wayzata Public Schools.

The firm will be paid a consulting fee of $19,500. The district hopes to have a replacement in place by April.

SHAPOKEE

District saves $10M by refinancing debtThe Shakopee School District has refinanced existing debt and as a result will save district residents almost $10 million over the next 10 years.

The district refinanced general obligation building bonds that were set to mature in the next 12 years.

In January 2012, the district saved $5,337,885 when it refinanced general obligation bonds.

This year's refinancing savings, just completed, saved about $4.4 million, and coupled with last year's provide a total of more than $9.7 million in savings for Shakopee.

"Refinancing our bonds is similar to refinancing a home mortgage," said district Superintendent Rod Thompson. "By doing this, we are saving money for our district and local taxpayers."

WEST ST. PAUL

School board re-elects leadersThe leadership of the West St. Paul school board has been re-elected. All were re-elected unanimously.

Mark Spurr will continue as chairman, Dewayne Dill as vice chairman and clerk, and Pat Barnum as treasurer.

HERÓN MÁRQUEZ