STILLWATER — Staff changes dominated last week’s District 834 School Board meeting.

A search for an interim superintendent is underway, in light of Superintendent Keith Ryskoski’s resignation to move to a position with South Washington County Schools. Meanwhile, Chuck Ochocki was named interim principal of Stillwater Junior High School to replace Rick Wippler, who retired after 12 years as principal. Mary Mesler has been named director of student support services, replacing Don Schuld.

Saving his parting remarks until the end of the meeting, Ryskoski said there have been triumphs and challenges, “and because of my faith, I’ve been able to be who I am.”

He told board members from the moment he started working in the district, he felt like part of the family.

“I take the word ‘family’ to mean a lot more than just my immediate family,” he said.

Ryskoski thanked his immediate family for their support, acknowledging there are things he has missed.

“There are choices that you make,” he said. “The important thing about a family is people are always there. Some people have different ways of showing it. When they’re needed, they’ll be there. That’s the unique thing about this district. It is one family.

“The students always made the job the most rewarding. I encourage staff, the board and community, to stop in and see the wonderful things the kids are doing in the schools.”

Board Chairman George Hoeppner presented Ryskoski with a leadership award, saying most people probably don’t realize the difficulty of the job. He said Ryskoski always treated people with respect and dignity.

The board has developed a list of attributes and qualities they would like to see in a superintendent and a number of potential candidates have been contacted, according to Hoeppner. He said the board anticipates two or three interviews being held before July 30 and the goal is for board approval Aug. 12.

As Ochocki moves from assistant principal to principal of the junior high, Jim Eberhardt, a current junior high teacher, will serve as interim assistant principal.

Hoeppner said Wippler was always very proud of his staff and the students.

“He frequently said he believed his staff and program could transform a student’s life,” Hoeppner said. “In the time that I got to know him, he took a good school and he made it even better.

“Both Chuck and Jim have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving student achievement and building positive relationships with students, staff, parents and community members,” said Chris Lennox, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.

Throughout the coming year, district leaders will work with school staff, parents and community members to gather input and begin the search for a permanent principal at the junior high.

Named as director of student support services, Mesler has extensive classroom experience and most recently was with St. Paul Public Schools.

“We were very pleased at the quality of the pool of candidates that we had a chance to interview,” Ryskoski said. “For our district to be able to secure the services of somebody like Mary is a real coup on our behalf.”