SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Public School Superintendent John Cselovszki revealed elementary principal finalist candidates to the school board Tuesday.

The finalists are New Richland Hartland Ellendale Geneva Schools Teaching & Learning Coordinator Jason Toupence, Granada Huntley East Chain Schools Agriculture Instructor/FFA Advisor and Sleepy Eye native McKenzie Wagelie, Kimball Elementary Principal Joel Timmerman, and Fridley High School Assistant Principal Mark Jacobs.

“The hiring committee reviewed nine applicants and offered four candidates an interview opportunity,” Cselovszki said.

Interviews took place 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The board will consider hiring an elementary principal at its June 10 meeting.

Sleepy Eye High School Principal Shane Laffen said hiring an assistant Pre-K-12 principal may be the best solution.

“I’d try running the elementary and high school (principalship) and see how it goes,” he said at an April board meeting.

Cselovszki said an assistant principal works with attendance and discipline.

The elementary principal position became open for next school year following the resignation of Ben Westphal effective June 30.

Westphal’s resignation quickly followed the Sleepy Eye Public School Board’s approval of a one-year probationary period extension and $90,000 2026-2027 contract for Westphal.

A former behavior intervention, teaching and program coordinator at River Bend Education District in New Ulm, Westphal said he will work for Minnesota Valley Education District Special Education Services in St. Peter next school year.

Westphal told the board Tuesday in his report that student discipline issues decreased in May to fewer than one per day.

“Thirty-seven percent of all this year’s referrals came out of kindergarten,” he said. “The Kindergarten learning model will be restructured next year to be more developmentally appropriate with play-based learning for improved growth of social skills and less office referrals. Next year, the behavior team will focus more on training, de-escalation and intervention.”