Divided Williston School Board tackles latest superintendent evaluation

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) - Williston Basin School District Superintendent Richard Faidley received a written reprimand and was placed on a personal improvement plan this past summer. The school board this week met to discuss his performance since then.

The school board found Faidley’s efforts satisfactory, but it was far from an easy vote. There’s also the matter of the improvement plan, which remains an active part of Faidley’s career going forward.

On Tuesday, the board voted 4 to 3 that Faidley’s evaluation was satisfactory. Chris Jundt, Heather Wheeler and Cory Swint dissented, expressing concerns over Faidley not following the entirety of his personal improvement plan, and worry over what they say is a negative culture brewing in the district.

“In my personal opinion, we’re at a point that I just don’t see that getting better under the current leadership right now,” said Jundt.

Faidley, defending himself, said he did the best he could to follow the plan.

“I’m not going to apologize for all of the hard work that this organization and this team have put in to make all the changes that the board has asked for. It wasn’t just one person. One person is not culture,” said Faidley.

Following the meeting, Board President Kyle Renner said they still have faith in their leader.

“I believe he’s doing a good job. We are looking for improvement in different areas,” said Renner.

Those areas are expected to be defined when the board meets later this month to redesign the personal improvement plan.

The next superintendent evaluation is scheduled for the spring, giving Faidley several months to garner a better vote.