Burnsville's Joe Gothard named new St. Paul Schools superintendent

Joe Gothard, superintendent of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District, is the choice to be the next superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools.

He was selected Tuesday by school board members on a 5-to-2 vote, and is expected to take over the state's second-largest district this summer, subject to contract negotiations. He prevailed over Cheryl Logan, a senior leader for the School District of Philadelphia.

"I'm humbled by your belief in me," Gothard told the board via Skype.

His appointment follows board action last summer to remove former Superintendent Valeria Silva in a controversial $787,000 contract buyout — an extra high-stakes twist in what already figured to be a challenging assignment for the district's new schools' chief.

John Thein, the former Roseville superintendent coaxed out of retirement to lead the district on an interim basis, has overseen a calming of school-climate concerns that doomed Silva. But enrollment is on the decline, action is anticipated on controversial start time changes, and budget pressures are mounting. In coming months, the district must resolve a possible $27.3 million budget gap for 2017-18.

Still, the job attracted 67 applicants, and despite the early exit of a third finalist, Orlando Ramos of Milwaukee, board Chairman Jon Schumacher said that the board had two exceptional people from whom to choose.

Gothard was backed on Tuesday by Schumacher, Zuki Ellis, John Brodrick, Mary Vanderwert and Jeanelle Foster. Members Steve Marchese and Chue Vue cast "no" votes.

Ellis, the lone board member to travel to Philadelphia and Burnsville, said that Gothard created a vision for his district that people identify with him, but that was not his alone. His ability to unite people — to be a healer — will be important to St. Paul, she said.

"There is a need for us to come together," Ellis said.

Gothard, in his Skype appearance, said that "at the heart of community are relationships," and he relished the opportunity to get to know people. As for the many issues that have faced the district, he said he never has shied from a challenge.

"I want this job," he said.

In their recent appearances in St. Paul, Gothard and Logan each spoke of race and how it defined them.

"I needed her," Gothard told a crowd of about 260 people at a "Meet the Candidates" event on St. Paul's North End on March 29. "She finally allowed me to speak about being different ... and proud of it."

He's emphasized bringing unity to the 9,247-student south suburban district he took over in 2013 and adopting a restorative approach to discipline while he was a high school principal in Madison. In a blog published by the Savage Pacer, he has detailed changes made possible by a "Vision One91" strategic plan that included a voter-approved $65 million building bond and a $2.5 million-per-year technology levy.

In Madison, the 6-foot-6-inch Gothard was head football coach at the high school where he later became principal, and he won praise from the search firm School Exec Connect as a "rising star" who turned around "one of the toughest high schools in the city."

He has experience, too, with decisions involving school start times and the deployment of school resource officers (SROs), which has been a concern in St. Paul. He serves on the executive and legislative committees of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts.

Schumacher said that Gothard's experience locally and his understanding of the city should help him work quickly and effectively.

"I don't want to be having this conversation with you," Vanderwert quoted Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz as saying.

In St. Paul City Hall, Mayor Chris Coleman offered congratulations, and added in a statement that he believed Gothard's "extensive experience in public education and focus on innovating for today's learners will serve our students well."

Starting pay is about $238,000 — subject to negotiations.

In some ways, the district's new leader cannot take office soon enough.

On Tuesday, immediately after selecting the next superintendent, the board went into a committee meeting to hear the latest on enrollment projections.