Caledonia Argus

New superintendent chosen

Posted: 3/9/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Michael Moriarty, Brownsville, will be the new superintendent of Independent School District 299 on July 1.

The school board offered him a three-year contract at a special meeting on March 4, with a beginning salary of $90,000 per year.

His health and dental insurance package will be the same as that of other administrators, where the school district pays all the premiums and the employee is responsible for deductibles and co-pays. The dollar value of this at this yearís rates is $10,900.

Things like number and accrual of sick days, and retirement benefits will be worked out by the negotiation committee of Naomi Fruechte, Barb Hurley, and Suzanne Roesler.

Two other finalists also were in contention for the job. One of those candidates withdrew his application before the board meeting on March 4 because he was offered a job at his present work place.

Moriarty, 54, is currently in his second year as superintendent at Mabel-Canton School District. Prior to that he worked for nine years as an English and social studies teacher, then principal, at Rushford-Peterson Middle School. He graduated from Loretto High School in Caledonia in 1967, then received his undergraduate degree from Viterbo College, and completed his masters work at Winona State.

Moriarty is looking forward to working at Caledonia. ìThis is a great opportunity for me to work with an excellent school district that has done a great job of building for the future,î he said. But he said he is sad to be leaving what he called great students, staff, and community members at Mabel-Canton.

He said he would like to create an atmosphere in which both parents and students feel comfortable working. ìIím hoping to improve on what is already a good curriculum, and a good place to go to school.î

Another goal is to establish a sense of trust and fiscal responsibility with the community.

Moriarity and his wife, Carmen, have three children, all of whom work in the Twin Cities area: Michael 31; and twins Amy and Mary, 28.

Board is pleased

Chuck Schulte cited Moriarityís people skills as a plus. ìBecause this is a people business. He has a proven track record with people,î Schulte said.

Schulte feels that Moriarity is a forward thinker who has helped get Iowa students to Mabel-Canton, has brought in free internet, and has helped introduce college courses to the school.

The fact that he is local and likely to stay will bring long-term stability to the district, Schulte added.

Barb Hurley said Moriarityís leadership skills stood out. ìYou could just tell by the comments he made that the students were going to be his number one concern,î she said. And heís got a good sense of humor, she added.

Suzanne Roesler said that Moriarity had all the qualities that the district was looking for, such as being a good financial manager, focused on academics, and provided a good school climate.

Moriarity has experience with block scheduling, Naomi Fruechte added, and is a consensus builder.

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