As we wave goodbye to 2021, the West Central Tribune looks back at the stories our reporters have covered throughout the year. Our communities were impacted by drought and COVID-19, but also saw new projects given the green light.
New BOLD superintendent looking to engage community
BOLD s newly appointed superintendent is meeting with district residents and is looking for more input as the district addresses anew its short- and long-term facility needs. “If our community is strong, I think our school district is strong, Superintendent Jim Menton told school board members. 7:00 pm, Jul. 28, 2021 ×
Superintendent Jim Menton, BOLD School District
OLIVIA Engaging the community is priority number one for Jim Menton, newly appointed Superintendent of the BOLD School District, as the district addresses its facilities needs. “Three things came to mind,” said Menton as he addressed school board members Monday evening at his first meeting as the district’s new superintendent. “We need to worry about our community, our financial stability and then our facilities.”
BOLD School Board reverses course, taps high school principal as new superintendent
Board members rescinded a decision to start the superintendent selection process over again and called on BOLD High School Principal Jim Menton to lead the district as its new superintendent. 5:00 pm, May 25, 2021 ×
BOLD High School Principal Jim Menton
OLIVIA With a crowd of nearly 100 filling the high school media center in Olivia, BOLD School Board members selected High School Principal Jim Menton as the district’s new superintendent.
His selection at Monday night’s meeting came on a 4-2 vote, and only four days after board members had voted to start the selection process anew for a superintendent to lead the district that serves the communities of Bird Island, Lake Lillian and Olivia.
BOLD narrows superintendent search to two
Four candidates are interviewing with school board members on Tuesday. Board members have invited residents of the district to join in the interview process. 9:44 pm, May 18, 2021 ×
Jim Menton, the high school principal in the BOLD School District , and Patrick Beiermann, an assistant elementary principal in the Willmar Public School District, are the finalists to be the next BOLD superintendent. They both are scheduled for a second interview Thursday night.
West Central Tribune graphic
OLIVIA BOLD School District board members have narrowed their superintendent search to two finalists.
After interviewing four candidates on Tuesday, school board members agreed to bring back two of the candidates for a second interview on Thursday.
BOLD interviews superintendent finalists
Four candidates are interviewing with school board members on Tuesday. Board members have invited residents of the district to join in the interview process. 4:11 pm, May 18, 2021 ×
OLIVIA BOLD School Board members interviewed four candidates for superintendent on Tuesday afternoon.
The candidates include: Patrick Beiermann, assistant principal, Willmar Public Schools; Cori Reynolds, community education director, Brainerd Public Schools; John Willey, superintendent/principal, Ellsworth School District; and James Menton, high school principal, BOLD Public Schools.
Board members have invited community members from the district to participate in the interview process. Board members will meet after the interviews.
School board members are seeking a successor to Superintendent Dale Brandsoy, who will be retiring from a 38-year career in education at the end of June.