Former Alden super applies in Lyle

Published 10:16 am Thursday, February 23, 2012

LYLE — There’s only one candidate for the interim superintendent job at the Lyle school district, according to the school board.

The board met Wednesday night to prepare interview questions for Joe Guanella, former Alden-Conger superintendent. Guanella left Alden-Conger in May 2011 after eight years with the district and is looking to get back into some superintendent work, according to board chairman Jerry Sampson. Sampson set up an interview with Guanella during the meeting after board members revealed he was the only candidate contacted by board members to express interest in the position.

The board will interview Guanella at 6 p.m. Thursday, asking some basic questions about his experience, his ability to handle stress and other information.

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Board members aren’t sure what terms to offer him for a new contract, however. Depending on Guanella’s interest, the board may enter into closed session Thursday to negotiate a contract, if necessary. They may cancel Saturday’s planned special session meeting as well.

The district has about $33,000 to $36,000 left in its budget to pay for a full-time superintendent/principal, according to board member Carl Truckenmiller. The board doesn’t look to be rushing into things, as it scheduled a meeting next Tuesday at 6 p.m. to approve a superintendent’s contract should the interview with Guanella go well.

Sampson said there was a potential candidate from Austin who had expressed interest in the position but hasn’t been scheduled for an interview. Board members agreed that candidate was a fall-back.

The board will look to fill the superintendent position by March 1, as superintendent Jim Dusso will leave the district on Feb. 29 after serving less than a year as superintendent. A school district must have a superintendent in order to operate legally.

Dusso previously spent two years as principal at Lyle school. The board and specifically Dusso was under fire over the past several months for perceived missteps and disagreements in leadership.

Guanella, in May 2011, told the Alden-Conger board he likes to change jobs every seven years or so, which he’s done since he was 18. He also didn’t think he can afford to retire from the school but said he’ll probably never fully retire because he’s so active. He said he would be looking for another job in school administration or at a business, which he has 20 years of experience in.