NRHEG hires top administrator

There's a new superintendent coming to New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (NRHEG) Public Schools and his name is Michael Meihak.
The current principal at Faribault Middle School was approved as the next superintendent by the school board at its meeting on Monday, Mar. 15.
School Board Chair Rick Schultz said the school board was very impressed with the quality of the candidates' pool, but there were several qualities that made Meihak stand out.
"I think the board found Mr. Meihak to be a very calm and approachable candidate, said Schultz, adding that the board also liked Meihak's ability to form partnerships that will move NRHEG forward.
Meihak said he believes his strengths are his excitement and dedication to education and building a positive rapport with staff and students.
Schultz also thinks Meihak's wealth of experience in education will serve him well as superintendent.
His career in education spans nearly 30 years. He was a teacher in the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton school district for seven years before becoming its high school principal for 12 years. After that, he worked for the Hawaii Department of Education as a school renewal specialist for one year before coming back to Minnesota and serving as the high school principal at Yellow Medicine East in Granite Falls for two years. Most recently, he's been the principal at Faribault Middle School for the past seven years.
"I believe his leadership role in Faribault has been very beneficial to him advancing to the role of superintendent," said Schultz.
As superintendent, he said the school board wants Meihak to get everyone in the school district working toward the same goal.
"We expect Mr. Meihak to pull the staff, students and community together to work for progress in the NRHEG school district," he said.
Meihak said getting everyone involved in the school district working together is also one of his goals.
"I'm really focused on building a positive environment, including staff in all aspects of education and working together as a team with staff, parents and students," he said.
In addition to getting the NRHEG community to work together, he wants to become entrenched within the community, establish open communication, respect the students' differences, and keep the students as the main focus in all decision-making.
However, what Meihak is most excited about is being part of the great things happening in the NRHEG school district. 
"I'm looking to continue to move the district forward and being an advocate for educational growth by being aware of the trends and bringing innovative creativity to the district," he said.
While those are his long-term goals, Schultz mentioned that one of Meihak's first tasks will be getting the district's budget balanced.
"We have been paying attention to the budget deficit for a number of years," he said.
Despite that challenge, Meihak is looking forward to taking on the role of NRHEG superintendent.
"I'm eager to be part of the school district and the community," he said. "I'm looking forward to the future, working together for years to come."
Meihak will take over as superintendent on July 1.
Dale Carlson's last day as superintendent is June 30.
Schultz said Carlson submitted his resignation in January.
"We are very appreciative of Dr. Carlson's six years as NRHEG superintendent," he said. "We wish him well as he makes his next career decision."