Gibraltar Gets Going on Superintendent Search

Mike Peot served on the Gibraltar Area School Board when it hired Tina Van Meer as district superintendent, and the board is asking Peot to lead the search for her replacement this winter and spring.

On Monday, the board approved having the longtime board member serve as chair of a search committee. Before choosing a search firm, the board will advertise its Request for Proposals with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies and nationwide firms that have had success placing administrators in positions in Wisconsin.

New Principal, New Catalog

Board members heard about some difficulties students have been having the past two years while the board was accepting a new catalog of courses, electives and requirements for junior high and high school students. 

Gibraltar secondary-school principal Steve DeBroux said the handbook does not change the district’s graduation requirements – which remain above state minimums – but he suggested the board might want to amend some requirements. He said students have had difficulties in a few of those requirements, such as finding enough volunteer opportunities during the pandemic to accumulate 30 hours of public service.

Also, for example, last year’s remote-learning setup made it tougher than usual for some students to do well on Spanish proficiency tests.

Board member Lauren Ward commended DeBroux, educators and staff members, including counselor Chelsea Roberts, for compiling the catalog and guidelines, and she said the catalog serves as a reminder of the quality and depth of courses offered at Gibraltar.