Anderson to retire as school superintendent - principal at end of June

Lincoln Public Schools superintendent and principal Carla Anderson informed the Lincoln school board of her decision to retire from the dual positions when her contract expires June 30, 2019.

Anderson submitted her formal retirement announcement at the Dec. 10 School board meeting, citing concerns about the toll the job has been taking on her health since she suffered a stroke in 2015.

"I have enjoyed my four years here, in this capacity, and have made lifelong friendships and memories that I will forever cherish. However, my health is taking a toll and my doctors believe that keeping up the pace for three years after a stroke is probably enough," she said in the letter she submitted to the board.

"I think everything has a season and it's time for me to move on and get someone else in there who can make different changes," Anderson told the BVD last week. She said she and her husband Brent are anxious to go do things together and travel while they're still in good health.

"Since my stroke in 15, I've just been losing a little ground physically and I just decided before I lost any more it was time to go do some other things."

Aaron Birkholz, president of the Lincoln School Board, said her announcement came as a surprise to him, since he'd expected her to request a contract renewal.

"We're sad to see her go," he said, but he appreciated her decision to inform them so early on to give them time to search for a replacement.

Birkholz said the board agreed to contract with the Montana School Board Association to help with the candidate search and hiring process.

"We're going to let them do all the legwork, since they know what they're doing and then they'll refer back to us on how to move forward with hiring a new person," he said.

The MTSBA helps keep the board on track legally and procedurally in their search for candidates by collecting applications, preparing them for screening and providing consultation to help guide the trustees through the hiring process, which typically takes two to three months.

The Lincoln School Board last opted to hire the MTSBA in 2015, after Kathy Heisler announced her decision to retire after serving for nine years as superintendent.

Anderson has served in the consolidated superintendent/principle position since July 1, 2015, following Heisler's retirement.

Tight budgets, combined with the unlikelihood of finding an administrator who was also qualified as a counselor, prompted the school board in 2015 to consolidate the superintendent and elementary, middle school and high school principal jobs as a cost saving measure that would allow for the hiring of a counselor.

Birkholz said the future of the consolidated administrator postion will be up for discussion as they move through the hiring process with the MTSBA.

"I know that's one of the things we are going to be discussing," he said.

"It's a pretty big job for one person. That's what I'd tell them," Anderson said. "Every meeting at the school that involves an administrator you have to go to. There's never anyone to cover for you."

During Anderson's first year on the job, she not only dealt with the effects of her stroke and completing her certifications for the job, but also with a slew of new teachers, following the retirement and resignation of six teachers and two other staff members at the end of the previous school year.

During the past three years, student enrollment has rebounded, and with it the school budget has also improved. Last year the school received a major literacy grant, which allowed the school to offer preschool for the first time in its history.

"When I applied, the preschool was my mission, so I feel pretty good that happened," Anderson said.

Anderson said the thing she knows she'll miss most about the job is the kids.

"In a K-12 building, now we're Pre-K, so there's interaction everyday with kids from three to 18. That's been the most fun, watching kids grow," she said.