John Cselovszki

SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye Public School Board unanimously approved a three-year superintendent sharing agreement with Cedar Mountain Public School Wednesday.

The Cedar Mountain School District has a part-time superintendent who’s contract ends June 30, 2025.

Under the agreement effective July 1, 2025, Superintendent John Cselovszki would be serving both schools on a 50-50 basis. His 2025-26 school year salary was set at $170,000; $175,000 for 2026-2027 and $180,000 for 2027-2028.

Cselovszki would no longer be the elementary principal in Sleepy Eye, a position he has held for a number of years. He said the Sleepy Eye board plans to hire a new elementary principal in the coming months. Action came on a motion by board member Casey Coulson, seconded by Joleen Dittbenner.

By a 5-2 vote in November, the Sleepy Eye school board approved moving forward on a joint venture superintendent sharing opportunity with Cedar Mountain Public School. Board members Joleen Dittbenner and Sheila Wurtzberger cast dissenting votes on the measure.

Cselovski said the school board received a letter from the Cedar Mountain School board asking if Sleepy Eye was interested in sharing a superintendent with them as of June 1, 2025.

Board member Brian Nelson said he thought both school districts may be able to benefit from sharing a superintendent by learning how the other school functions.

Sleepy Eye Public School Sherri Okerman asked the school board to keep a full-time elementary principal in the school to help manage the elementary school. She said Cselovszki has been a good “go-to” person in elementary school.

“A new, full-time elementary principal costs us more money. Any change has risk,” said board member Casey Coulson.