Paul Brownlow hired as new superintendent

It was a short West Central Area school board meeting, Wednesday evening, dealing primarily with personnel issues, none more important than the hiring of a new superintendent to replace Dale Hogie, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

The West Central Area School Board approved a superintendent contract with Paul Brownlow. Brownlow may be a familiar face to many in the WCA district as he taught instrumental music at WCA Secondary School from 1999 until 2005. After leaving WCA, Brownlow became superintendent/principal at Chokio-Alberta for two years, then moved to  Verndale where he was principal for one year and superintendent since 2009.

Brownlow’s wife, Stephanie, is band director at Verndale. The couple have four children, with the youngest graduating from Verndale this spring.

Mr. Brownlow will start his duties on July 1, 2022.

The board also approved the resignation of elementary teacher Sara Peterson, girls’ basketball head coach Eric Schoenbauer, assistant cook Elizabeth Hemingson, North Elementary paraprofessional Dawn Bumgardner, and WCA Secondary Teacher John Van Kempen, whose retirement will become effective Sept. 5, 2022.

The board approved the retirement of Elementary Teacher Darla Storm, and a leave request from Jaclyn Hoeper.

The WCA school board approved the hiring of Michele Danelke, as part-time paraprofessional at South, Sarah Schuler as full-time paraprofessional at the Secondary School, and Luke Gavin and Brent Engler, custodians at the Secondary School.

With spring athletics getting underway, the board approved the spring coaches list, as submitted by Activities Director Jacob Foslien.

Softball: Head Coach, Vanessa McNamara, Assistant Coach, Devonie Smith, Junior High Coach, Becca Holland, Junior High Coach, open

Baseball: Head Coach, Andy Koloski, Assistant Coach, Luc Beireis, Junior High Coach, Brandon Gruchow, Junior High Coach, Eric Schoenbauer

Boys Golf: Head  Coach, Kraig Hunter,  Junior High Coach, Ben Johnson

Girls Golf: Head Coach, Chelle Dewey, Junior High Coach, Kari Kreft

Track and Field: Head Coach, Dave Schleicher, Assistant Coach, Matthew Nemec, Junior High Coach, Nate Wood, Junior High Coach, open

Other business

The board approved an early-dismissal day (12:30) on Friday, April 1, 2020 because WCA will be hosting the Section Speech Tournament and all Secondary School classrooms will be used. Sport practices will go on as usual.