by April Scheinoha
Editor
Dr. Tony Greene has resigned as Franklin Middle School principal in Thief River Falls, effective Monday, June 30. The Thief River Falls School Board accepted his resignation at its meeting Monday, March 24.
Greene has resigned to accept the job as superintendent for the Red Lake Falls School District, effective Tuesday, July 1.
Greene succeeds Jim Guetter, who is retiring as superintendent of both the Red Lake Falls School District and Red Lake County Central School District. The latter school district is based in Oklee. Andy Fougner is succeeding Guetter as superintendent there.
Greene wasn’t yet prepared to talk with the Northern Watch about his impending departure from the Thief River Falls School District.
Greene has served as FMS principal since 2021. He first served on an interim basis after Bob Wayne retired and then he was later formally hired for the position. Prior to that time, Greene served as the assistant principal at the school for about 12 years. In the past, he served as principal/activities director of Marshall County Central High School in Newfolden. Greene also previously taught at Challenger Elementary School in Thief River Falls.
During the School Board meeting, Chairperson Ryan Walseth said it was bittersweet to say goodbye to Greene, but he was happy for Greene.
Thief River Falls Superintendent Dr. Chris Mills outlined the process to fill the vacancy created by Greene’s departure from the district. He noted the position will be open for two weeks. The hiring committee will include about 10 people, including School Board Vice Chairperson Misty Hempel. Mills anticipated the committee may look at the applications Monday, April 7 and possibly interview candidates Wednesday, April 16.
While Greene will be succeeding Guetter in Red Lake Falls, Fougner will succeed him as superintendent of the RLCC School District. Fougner currently works as principal of RLCC Elementary School in Plummer. He was recently awarded the Northern Division Leadership Award from the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association.
Fougner was previously a special education teacher in the district. He also previously worked as a special education teacher in the International Falls School District.
Both districts will be in good hands in the future, said Guetter, who added that both districts are also in good places in terms of enrollment, facilities and finances. Like every other district, he noted that both districts are battling to fill vacant positions.
Guetter has been superintendent of both school districts since the 2014-15 school year. He recently oversaw a two-year construction project in the RLCC School District.
Guetter was also a part of the consolidation of the Oklee and Plummer schools districts when the districts merged to become the RLCC School District in the 2013-14 school year. He noted that consolidation was a good step in the growth of both communities.
At that point, he had been serving as superintendent of those two school districts for 10 years.
Previously, Guetter served as principal/superintendent at Herman-Norcross Community School. In the past, he also taught and coached in the Stephen-Argyle Central School District.
Guetter and his wife, Paige, have three children and two grandchildren. During his retirement, he plans to spend more time with them.
Guetter said he also plans to learn how to catch fish and he hopes to visit relatives in Australia if they move there as they wish. He added that he also plans to make no major commitments for the next year and he plans to learn to say no.