Ridder passed over for Nebraska education job

The Nebraska State Board of Education named a new state commissioner of education Thursday, and it's not departing Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Norm Ridder.

While Nebraska-native Ridder was one of four finalists for the job, the board chose Matthew Blomstedt by a unanimous vote. Blomstedt currently is executive director of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, according to a news release.

All four finalists were interviewed Wednesday by the board and also met with Nebraska Department of Education staff, legislative staff and representatives of Nebraska’s education partners and policy makers.

Ridder had applied for a similar position in Wyoming earlier this year, but ultimately was not selected for the job.

Ridder has served as the Springfield Public Schools superintendent since 2005, and in August, he informed the school board he would end his tenure with the district on June 30, 2014.

SPS search
On Tuesday, the Springfield Board of Education met with superintendent search firm McPherson & Jacobson to review stakeholder input gathered during 17 meetings held Nov. 18-19 and to determine procedures for interviewing the superintendent candidates, according to a news release.

The application deadline is Jan. 15, after which the board will interview candidates and quarterfinalists during the month of February. Final interviews are expected to conclude by March 4.

Ridder's base salary for the current year is $160,926, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.[[In-content Ad]]