Thursday, January 25, 2007

Pfau promoted to new Oskaloosa superintendent

by Kenneth Lassiter

Oskaloosa Elementary School Principal Jon Pfau’s experience and dedication to the school district have paid off as the school board hired him Jan. 8 to take over as district superintendent in July.

Pfau, 38, will finish out the school year in his principal position and take over for Dr. Harry Austin when Austin’s resignation takes effect June 30. In the meantime, Pfau will spend some time with Austin learning the ropes of the superintendent position.

“Dr. Austin has really helped already with starting the transition and will continue to help out as needed,” Pfau said. He is in his ninth year in the district after starting as assistant high school principal, being first promoted to middle school principal and then moved to the elementary school position. He began his career teaching physical education in the Tribune school district for six years before serving as middle and high school principal in that district for a year.

Austin said he had pinpointed Pfau as a likely candidate for the job when the search for a new superintendent began. Austin was brought in in June 2006 with the knowledge he was (hopefully for the school board) a one-year placeholder while the search commenced for a new superintendent.

“I’ve known since day one he was the most likely candidate,” said Austin of Pfau. “Really there aren’t as many people available for positions like this than there used to be. Like me, they’re all getting old. Jon has a good manner about him and deals with people in a fair manner. He knows a lot about being an administrator and deals with tough situations and makes many of them come out so both sides win. I think he’s also well liked by the community and the staff. I’ve been involved in this process in other districts and I’ve seen all of the applicants in those situations and Jon is as well prepared as any administrator without prior experience as a superintendent.”

The hiring of Pfau, who is a native of Goodland, is another step in the district’s recovery from financial problems that led to the resignation of former superintendent Dr. Loren Lutes in early 2006. Austin said the financial woes may lead to cuts in staffing at the district.

“Enrollment is down and there’s been no adjustments in expenditures to reflect that,” Austin said. “That will likely put us in the situation of having to make some staffing cuts. We’ll probably reduce the administrative positions by one, although nothing has been finalized there.”

One option discussed has been separating the principal’s positions into grades K through six for one and grades seven through 12 for the other, although as Austin said no official decision has been made.

Pfau said the new job was a case of him feeling the timing and place was right to take a shot at his first superintendent job.

“The district is important to me and it’s a situation that I felt like the timing was right for me,” Pfau said.

He and his wife, Stacia, have three children – Haley, 12, Braeden, 8, and Jenna, 5.

“All our kids will be in school full-time next year and this was something I’ve always been interested in. Plus it’s in a district I know so well now. All the things just seemed to fit. This just felt right. I’ve seen good times and bad times for the district and hopefully I can be part of a lot of good times (as superintendent).”

Austin said he feels that the school board made a good choice in Pfau.

“I’ll continue to work with him the rest of my time here and after, if needed, but I’m sure he will do an excellent job,” Austin said. “He’ll be a real asset for the district.”