David Thompson appointed interim superintendent of Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools

Sep. 28—KASSON, Minn. — Following the August departure of Mark Matuska who had served in the role for more than a decade, David Thompson will serve as superintendent of Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools on an interim basis.

The KM School Board approved the decision in August. He clarified, however, that he will only be in the role for one year until the district finds a permanent superintendent.

"I think whoever comes in is going to find it in good shape and ready to go," Thompson said of the next superintendent. "I know that Kasson-Mantorville is a very good school district."

He will receive a salary for the year of $151,800, according to his contract with the district.

Although retired for the past handful of years, Thompson has held a number of educational leadership roles throughout his career. Most recently before retiring, he served as the superintendent of Stewartville Public Schools for 17 years.

He started his career as a teacher, coach and athletic director in Elgin-Millville before Plainview merged with the district in 2005.

In addition to serving as an interim superintendent himself at Kasson-Mantorville, he also uses his retirement to help the Minnesota School Boards Association help school districts fill their vacant superintendent positions.

Matuska, Kasson-Mantorville's former superintendent, announced his resignation in August to take a position at another school district.

In a letter to the district's families,

he said the move would allow him to be closer to his family.

During his last school board meeting in August, Matuska spoke about the process of watching both his own children as well as the other students at the school district grow up throughout the years.

"It was so much fun to watch those kids come from elementary to middle to high school," Matuska said during the meeting.