Dr. Sicoli is chosen for new superintendent

From a 281 press release received today:

Dr. Aldo Sicoli has accepted an offer from the Robbinsdale Area School Board to be the next superintendent of the Robbinsdale district. The school board interviewed two finalists for the position, Sicoli and Dr. Carlton Jenkins of Beloit, Wisconsin. The board discussed the qualifications of the two candidates after Sicoli’s Thursday, April 9 interview. The board felt both were strong candidates, but that Sicoli was a better fit with the attributes developed with the community for superintendent of the district.

“We are very excited that Dr. Sicoli accepted our offer,” said Tom Walsh, school board chair. “He is committed to the success of all learners and improving student achievement; he is a superb communicator both verbally as well as an excellent listener. He will be able to hit the ground running.”

“I am very excited to join the Robbinsdale team,” Sicoli said. “I look forward to working with staff and the community to improve student achievement.”

The school board will now negotiate a contract with Sicoli. Once the contract is approved by the board, Sicoli and current Superintendent Stan F. Mack II will develop a transition plan. Sicoli officially begins work July 1. Mack is retiring at the end of the 2008-09 school year after serving Robbinsdale Area Schools for nine years.

During the board meeting Thursday night, Kenneth Dragseth, a partner with School Exec Connect, the firm hired by the board to assist in the superintendent search, assured the board that it had two qualified candidates. Dragseth said that hiring a new superintendent whose previous position was assistant superintendent was a common practice. More than 20 Twin Cities metropolitan area superintendents, including those at the five largest school districts in the state, had not been superintendent in their previous district, according to Dragseth.

Dr. Aldo Sicoli has been the assistant superintendent for community relations, school operations and program services for Burnsville-Eagan-Savage public schools since 2006.

The most promising  is having a great communicator and listener representing us. We welcome Dr. Sicoli to our district and know he’s got a lot of difficult repair work ahead.