Osky Superintendent Finalist For Independence Position

Oskaloosa Schools Superintendent Russ Reiter (file photo)

by Charlie Comfort

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Oskaloosa Schools Superintendent Russ Reiter appears to be in the job market. According to an announcement from the Independence Community School District, Reiter is one of three finalists for the open superintendent position in Independence, Iowa. Independence’s current superintendent is retiring at the end of the current school year. Reiter, as well as Marty Jimmerson, Superintendent of the AGWSR School District in Ackley, and Dr. Jesse Ulrich, Superintendent of the AHTSW School District in Avoca, will all visit Independence on January 29 and participate in a series with the public and the school board.

According to the statement on the school website, the Independence School Board hopes to extend an offer to one of the three candidates shortly after the interviews. A timeline for the superintendent search process posted on the Independence School District’s website lists February 19 as the date for a board meeting to approve a contract with a superintendent candidate.

Russ Reiter has been superintendent of Oskaloosa schools since the 2010-2011 school year. Reiter previously served in the Mt. Ayr school district as Superintendent.

Reiter currently is in the final year of a three-year contract. His contract has not been extended since 2014. Reiter’s salary has been $170,723 since the 2015-2016 school year.

The Oskaloosa and Independence School Districts are both 3A school districts. However, enrollment numbers suggest that the Independence school district is smaller than the Oskaloosa school district. Independence reported a certified enrollment of 1,412 students in the 2016-2017 school year, while the Oskaloosa school district reported a certified enrollment of 2,365 students.

You can find the full announcement from the Independence School District by clicking HERE.