School District 423’s new director of business and finance was drawn here by the spirit of teamwork.
“That’s how my colleagues think about Hutchinson when we talk about it,” said Becky Boll, who started on Dec. 28. “I thought, ‘That’s a good fit for me.’”
She started a career in the field after earning a bachelor’s degree in management studies and finance, and a minor in communication, from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She spent about five years in the private sector, working at Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis and then for credit unions.
When Boll married and moved to Litchfield, she went to work at Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart schools.
“I decided I wanted to shift gears,” she said.
After four years a position in Litchfield opened up, and she was there for two years before Hutchinson’s former director of business and finance, Donna Luhring, announced her upcoming retirement.
“I was looking to keep growing,” Boll said.
She was attracted to Hutchinson for a variety of reasons inside and outside the school district.
“The community is growing on the retail front,” she said. “There is very stable student growth here.”
In the previous school year, student growth was larger than expected, at about 50. During a School Board meeting earlier this year, Luhring reported the district was up 10 students since early budget estimates began.
In addition to the team-oriented administration, Boll was interested in the district’s finances.
“It’s very solid, very conservative,” she said. “The district is fiscally healthy. That’s what people in my role look for. We’re excited to maintain that.”
Boll was also impressed by what she saw inside and outside the buildings during previous informal visits, and during the interview process.
“I’m extremely impressed by how well they are maintained,” she said. “A lot of districts, including here, have aging buildings.”
She said the decision to have someone on staff able to maintain the heating ventilation and air conditioning, and an electrician, is a financially wise one based on the district size.
When the business and finance position opened up, Boll reached out to Superintendent Daron VanderHeiden.
“We had a really great conversation and I learned more about what they were looking for,” Boll said. She applied when she was sure she met the district’s requirements.
Nine people were part of the interview committee, which included School Board members. There was another interview once the pool was narrowed.
As District 423’s director of business and finance, Boll will work with the administration team – the superintendent, principals and director of teaching and learning – and other staff in the business office.
“I have a great first impression of them, they all know their jobs well,” she said. “My job is to help the district with the budgeting process. Basically, I serve as the (chief financial officer). I help oversee technology and food service. I help with labor negotiations.”
It’s a lot to take in, but Boll has experience in other districts, and she started in Hutchinson with a little help.
“I spent four days with Donna before she retired officially,” Boll said. “It was nice to be able to spend time with her and figure out where her projects were, where her files were. She had 10 years of knowledge, and she covered as much ground as she could in four days.”
Now her first short-term goal is to learn where the district has been, and where it is going.
“As we get closer to the fiscal year end, I will help with presentations,” Boll said.
She intends to stay in the role for awhile.
“I started out in a smaller district and worked my way up. It’s an opportunity to keep that moving forward,” Boll said. “I would love to teach one day.”
She doesn’t necessarily mean she intends to move to the classroom, but instead sees herself in a mentor role one day.
“I’d like to be able to share my background and knowledge with people coming up,” Boll said. “No matter what your job is, I think that’s a part of it.”
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