BOLD School Board selects new superintendent
Board members on Thursday authorized entering into contract negotiations for the superintendent position with Tim Tydlacka, according to School Board Chair Todd Frank.
Tydlacka was one of three finalists that participated in both a meet-and-greet and second interview for the position on Thursday, June 12.
The other two finalists were Eric Martinez, Junior/Senior High principal at Madelia Schools, and Judd Wheatley, 6-12 principal at MACCRAY Schools.
Tydlacka has served as the K-12 principal at Cyber Village Academy in Minneapolis for the past two years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior positions include executive director at Harbor City International School in Duluth, English teacher at Minnesota Math and Science Academy and high school English teacher at various other schools.
He holds a superintendent license and a K-12 principal license from St. Mary's University, a master's degree in education from the College of St. Scholastica and a bachelor's degree in English/language arts teacher education from Minnesota State University — Moorhead, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Tydlacka will be replacing Superintendent Jim Menton.
The BOLD School Board decided in a split 4-2 vote in April not to renew Menton's contract.
Board members at the April 28 meeting cited concerns over the district's financial predicament and worries that the community will not trust the board and current superintendent to solve it when making the decision.
The district is on track for a $700,000 shortfall or greater in this year's budget. It could grow to as large as $900,000 in what Menton described as a "worst-case scenario."
The district's financial mess came to light following the resignation of the school district's business manager in September.
that the district had asked for a criminal investigation into the business manager's actions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
42 minutes ago
- New York Post
Trump admin will give billions in remaining withheld grants to schools
The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. President Donald Trump's administration had withheld more than $6 billion in funding on July 1, as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House's priorities. The funding freeze had been challenged by several lawsuits as educators, Congress members from both parties and others called for the administration to release money schools rely on for a wide range of programs. Congress had appropriated the money in a bill signed this year by Trump. Advertisement 4 According to the Education Department, the Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools. AP 4 Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks during a Senate Appropriations hearing on June 3, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. AP Last week, the Education Department said it would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school and summer programming. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America had said they would have to close or scale back educational offerings this fall. The release of that money came days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. Those senators had also called for the rest of the money to be distributed, including funds for adult education and teaching English as a second language. Advertisement The Education Department said Friday the Office of Management and Budget had completed its review of the programs and will begin sending the money to states next week. 4 The release of that money comes after 10 Republican senators sent a letter asking the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. AP 4 The grants will go to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs. AP Advertisement U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, was among the Congress members calling for the release of the grants. 'The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support,' she said. She pointed to after-school and summer programs that allow parents to work while their children learn and classes that help adults gain new skills — contributing to local economies. In withholding the funds, the Office of Management and Budget had said some of the programs supported a ' radical leftwing agenda. ' Advertisement 'We share your concern,' the GOP senators had written. 'However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.' School superintendents had warned they would have to eliminate academic services without the money. On Friday, AASA, an association of superintendents, thanked members of Congress for pressing to release the money.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. President Donald Trump's administration had withheld more than $6 billion in funding on July 1, as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House's priorities. The funding freeze had been challenged by several lawsuits as educators, Congress members from both parties and others called for the administration to release money schools rely on for a wide range of programs. Congress had appropriated the money in a bill signed this year by Trump. Last week, the Education Department said it would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school and summer programming. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America had said they would have to close or scale back educational offerings this fall. The release of that money came days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. Those senators had also called for the rest of the money to be distributed, including funds for adult education and teaching English as a second language. The Education Department said Friday the Office of Management and Budget had completed its review of the programs and will begin sending the money to states next week. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, was among the Congress members calling for the release of the grants. 'The programs are ones that enjoy longstanding, bipartisan support,' she said. She pointed to after-school and summer programs that allow parents to work while their children learn and classes that help adults gain new skills — contributing to local economies. In withholding the funds, the Office of Management and Budget had said some of the programs supported a 'radical leftwing agenda.' 'We share your concern,' the GOP senators had written. 'However, we do not believe that is happening with these funds.' School superintendents had warned they would have to eliminate academic services without the money. On Friday, AASA, an association of superintendents, thanked members of Congress for pressing to release the money. In Harford County, Maryland, some of the withheld federal money made up more than half the budget for the district's annual summer camp for kids learning English. The money helps the district hire certified teachers to staff the camp, incorporating learning into children's play for four weeks during the summer. The program helps kids keep their English and academic momentum over the summer. The district serves roughly 1,100 students who are non-native English speakers. Many of them are born in the U.S. to parents who came to the area seeking job opportunities, often in the restaurants and warehouses that have popped up in the past decades in the region northeast of Baltimore. During the school year, the soon-to-be-released federal money pays for tutors for kids learning English. On Thursday, more than 350 children filled the second floor of Bel Air High School for the second-to-last day of summer camp. Young learners crowded around an alphabet wheel, jostling with each other to push each letter button as they thought of foods starting with letters from A to Z. Middle school students watched a robotics team demonstration, and a few sheepishly raised their hands when asked if they would be interested in joining. High school student volunteers, some of whom had been campers learning English themselves not many years ago, helped the youngest children with art projects.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Education Department releases $5 billion to schools after monthlong hold
The Department of Education announced Friday the release of more than $5 billion of funding to schools after an almost monthlong pause. At the beginning of July, the Trump administration paused the typical release of almost $7 billion in funding to schools that went toward after-school and summer activities, classes for English learners and adults and teacher preparation programs, among other things. Last week, the administration released more than $1 billion for after-school and summer programs but declined to say when the rest would be released. 'OMB has completed its review of Title I-C, Title II-A, Title III-A, and Title IV-A ESEA funds and Title II WIOA funds, and has directed the Department to release all formula funds. The agency will begin dispersing funds to states next week,' said Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications for the Education Department. Republicans were quick to celebrate the release many had fought for. Both of West Virginia's Republican senators, Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, quickly reacted to news. 'This supports critical programs so many West Virginians rely on and I made that clear to OMB Director Vought,' Capito said on X, referring to Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. 'The release of these funds will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the kids of West Virginia,' Justice, a former governor, said on X. Capito had led an effort among Senate Republicans earlier this month to push for the funding release. 'Exciting news to announce! All frozen education funding for the upcoming school year have been released, following my letter to the OMB! It helps centers like @KidsCanOmaha and our schools!' Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) posted. The White House argued the funds were paused because some money was going to a 'radical leftwing agenda.' An administration official told The Washington Post 'guardrails' have been put on the money to align with the administration's agenda, similar language described in the release of the first $1 billion. It is unclear what these guardrails are or how they will affect the funding. The move received bipartisan pushback, with a letter from 10 Republican senators and a lawsuit from Democratic-led states demanding the funds be released. The pause in funds led to delays and closures in some programs and layoffs at schools in Alaska. 'We are pleased public schools will receive the funding as appropriated by Congress for the 2025-26 school year. On the heels of our survey released Tuesday, detailing how disruptive withholding these funds would be for our nation's students, we thank our members and allies on the Hill. We appreciate their tireless advocacy, communication and outreach to the Administration about the importance of releasing these critical funds,' said David Schuler, executive director of The School Superintendents Association.
