After more than 30 years in school administration, Decorah Community Schools Superintendent Mike Haluska retires next week

Posted: Tue, Jun 18, 2019 9:39 AM

Decorah Community Schools superintendent Mike Haluska is unequivocal in his opinion that the best superintendent position in the state is being School Superintendent in Decorah--a job he has held since 2007. He outlined several reasons for feeling that way:

• high expectations for education within the Decorah community,
• staff, students, parents and a community that have a "forward moving" attitude toward education,
• a community that gives students permission to excel,
• a well educated board, often coming from the Shareholders group, that is able to intelligently and broadly discuss educational directions without being individually agenda focused.

But Haluska also acknowledges that there is a cumbersome presence that can wear on a school administrator--regulations and federal involvement. Perhaps facetiously, perhaps not, he said that "we get 2 percent of our funding from the federal government, and 98 percent of our regulations."

What are you most proud of in terms of accomplishments during your tenure?

• the successful passing of a bond issue for high school renovation – one that many said could not pass on its first attempt. He credited the very influential involvement of the community, specifically the Shareholders, in visioning a project that would be so beneficial and wide reaching for both students and the community.
• Haluska then reverted to the old phrase of "success breeds success" as he praised the students and their healthy, mature, embracing of success in a wide range of activities including music, athletics, speech, academics and much more.
• despite some of the leanest times in state funding history for public education, the Decorah School District has been able to grow and succeed in its academic and co-curricular activities, while remaining in a good financial condition.
• Haluska also reflected on the North Winneshiek merger, empathically noting the loss experienced within that community, while hoping that the transition is, and will continue to be, one that serves students in the best and most inclusive way possible.

What has been the toughest part of your job?

Haluska again referred to record cuts in funding for public education. Secondly, he noted the increasing mental health needs of today's students.

What has been the best part of your job?

Haluska praised the good people he has worked with, across the board in terms of positions, who go the extra mile to enable success for all students, and not just those who are college bound. He also relished the "Decorah Way" of students excelling and being involved.

What would you like the community to know about a superintendent's job?

Haluska said the there is a tremendous diversity and breadth to the job that ranges from teaching philosophies and school finance expertise to the administrative skills that are needed on a daily basis to empower staff while keeping things running. He says a superintendent needs to be a good synthesizer. "You can't be an expert at everything" and you need to pull out and coordinate from your resources and staff the skills and talents that will move the district forward.

Any final advice for parents?

In the midst of all the successes and accomplishments of Decorah students, Haluska lamented the sometimes intense drive that promotes over-scheduling and unfair expectations on student achievement. "Give your kids time to be kids."