“He really confronts the data, and that’s the way you improve,” she said.

A total of five candidates from inside and outside the district were interviewed, Sheldahl said. This hiring fills a void left when Sheldahl, then the assistant superintendent, replaced Tom Rubel as the district’s chief administrator nearly two years ago.

Having Eidahl on the superintendent’s “cabinet” will bring them back to four central office leaders: Sheldahl, Meadows, Eidahl and Business Manager John Donner. As for who will take over at Evans, no decision has yet been made.

This past school year, the middle school principal salary was $86,900. Eidahl’s new salary will be about $106,000.

“It’s going to allow us to get to some areas we have not been able to pay sufficient attention to,” said Sheldahl. “Professional development across all levels, improve our relationship with the community college, expanding college credits [for high school students] and will allow me to promote the district more by allowing me to spend more time with the community and businesses.”

Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.