Search for new Marathon principal winds down

School board interviews three finalists

During the closed session portion of the Marathon School Board meeting on Monday, officials interviewed three finalists for the Marathon Area Elementary School and Marathon Venture Academy principal position. Current principal Ryan McCain’s tenure will come to a close on June 30.

The district received 17 applications for the position, with two of the individuals already having taken other jobs before interviews began. Of the initial pool, five candidates were interviewed by a committee, which recommended the final three for school board members to assess.

According to District Administrator Rick Parks, the board came to a “consensus on the order of applicants” after the interviews. He will be finalizing reference calls and contacting the lead candidate this week. Parks said there could be a recommendation for hiring and offering a contract on the agenda for next week’s school board meeting.

“I think the board was very happy with the finalists,” Parks said.

School board members also approved other agenda items on Monday related to staff changeover. After comments about being sad to see him go, the board approved the resignation of John Vanderwyst, a technology education teacher who has been with the district for nine years.

“He was authentic,” school board president Jodi Debroux said. “He was real, that’s what the kids liked, but yet he had their respect.”

In a letter to the district, Vanderwyst said his wife had been offered a position at another school district near Eau Claire, which would allow for them to move closer to family. Vanderwyst wrote that “the decision was not easy by any means” and expressed gratitude for being able to be a part of the Marathon district.

“Marathon is full of great kids,” Vanderwyst wrote. “That is a testament to each one of you. I am not sure where I will land yet, but no matter where and when that happens, I will always look back at my nine years here fondly.”

Vanderwyst’s resignation takes effect at the end of the school year. Parks said the district has already posted the position and has had a few applicants.

Also during this week’s meeting, the board approved the hiring of Jill Tetzlaff as a new high school math teacher. Tetzlaff currently works at Wausau West High School.