Many schools are facing financial difficulties because of deferrals of state funds and budget constraints, but the Albert Lea School District filled a key role in facing those issues.

Lori Volz will leave her position as director of finances in the Austin School District to take the role in Albert Lea starting Oct. 19. Finance Director Larry Kellogg is retiring and will serve his last day Oct. 14.

Volz was named the 2009 Business Official of the Year for her work on the Energy Conservation Program in Austin. She said she brings unique skills to Albert Lea from her work on the conservation projects and other similar ventures.

Before spending nearly 11 years as the finance director for the Austin School District, Volz worked in school finance in Blue Earth for about 15 years.

While the Albert Lea and Austin school districts have similarities and differences, Volz said the biggest issue she’ll face when she starts in Albert Lea is one most Minnesota districts are facing: school funding.

Districts are already facing a zero increase and deferred state funding, but Volz said there’s talk schools could face a decrease in funding in years to come.

“For the next biennial funding it could be very grave for public schools, and we may experience a funding cut. And so that is going to be the biggest challenge for all districts coming up. Being in tune with what’s happening with the economy and how that might affect us is something we’re going to be constantly watching,” Volz said.

During about 25 years in school funding, Volz said she’s seen the field become increasingly more complex.

She said there are now more restrictions and requirements that go along with funding. This makes it also more challenging to make the issues attainable to other officials in the district and the public.

Volz, 48, will earn an annual salary of about $109,000.

As for Kellogg, he plans to spend his retirement hunting and fishing, as he’ll move back to his hometown of Watertown, S.D., to move into his parents’ house. His parents live in a nursing home in the area.

Talks with Kellogg and Superintendent Michael Funk first attracted Volz to Albert Lea. Volz said the stability and the loyalty of the Albert Lea administration appealed to her. During her 11 years in Austin, Volz said she worked with six superintendents, while David Prescott was superintendent in Albert Lea for nearly 15 years before retiring.

“That was also a plus, the fact that Albert Lea has a stable and very loyal administration,” Volz said.

However, the move is largely a family move. The position in Albert Lea will shorten her daily commute, she said. Volz lives near Blue Earth where her husband, Scott, farms. The shorter commute will be especially beneficial because her 15-year-old daughter, Kristine, is very active in sports and music in Blue Earth. The shorter commute gives her more opportunities to attend her daughter’s events.

“This opportunity has fit in very well with my family plans,” Volz said.

Her son Daniel, 22, is a senior at Augsburg College, majoring in chemistry with minors in biology and music.

Volz was born in Bricelyn to a family with many ties to education. Her mother and both her grandmothers were teachers, and her grandfather was a principal.

Volz attended Mankato State University, now Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she earned a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis on industrial relations, and she earned her master’s in educational leadership with a concentration on school financing.

Volz played basketball for Mankato State in college. She now enjoys biking for exercise and attending Kristine’s volleyball games. She and Kristine frequently attend sports contests at MSU and plan to go to a volleyball game Saturday.

During her daily commute from Blue Earth, Volz said she listens to classical music each day. Not only does Volz play piano and cello, she greatly enjoys watching her children perform. Both her children are vocalists, while Kristine plays viola and Daniel plays the trombone.

Daniel has performed frequently, many of those times in the family’s church, and Kristine has also performed frequently at United Lutheran Church in Frost, where the family is very active.

Religion is important to the family, and Volz said she recently read William P. Young’s book “The Shack,” which she said was very moving, and she said she highly recommends it.

To become more familiar with the district, Volz plans to meet with the principals, and she’ll learn about the buildings to learn about any potential issues or concerns.

On Thursday, Volz met with Kellogg at the school district headquarters to discuss finanances and enrollment projections for the district, which she said is leading to a smooth transition to the district.

“The district is fortunate that they’re in a good solid position right now financially. That’s a great place to be in when we know the economic outlook is going to be very dire. At least we’re at a good starting point to hopefully weather that,” she said.