An article in last week’s Citizen-Tribune recognized  Becker Director of Business Services Joe Prom resigning his position and Kevin Januszewski being hired by the school board to take his place. 

 

Since the article, many citizens have questioned the move based on recent reports of Januszewski’s affiliation with illegal activities in the St. Cloud District’s buildings and grounds department.

 

This reporter sat down with Supt. Stephen Malone to clear the plate.

 

Malone first heard of Prom’s decision to resign in early March. As is with any case of a resignation, a firing or a departure, Malone said the school immediately files to have that position filled. Malone said the position was advertised through various outlets for six weeks and he received eight applicants.

 

“Out of the eight, we had one (Januszewski) who had the experience we were looking for,” said Malone.

 

Malone scheduled interviews and told the board in March that typically he’d like to have one or two board members sit in on the interviews. He said he left the decision on who those people were to the chairman, Aaron Jurek.

 

“Aaron proceeded to send out an email to the board members, asking them who’d like to be involved,” said Malone. “He heard back from  one (Jason Kindred) saying he’d volunteer, but if someone else wanted to participate, he’d sit this one out. Jurek volunteered himself to also be part of the process since it was assumed nobody else was interested.

 

Malone said regrettably that Jurek’s email or texts and their responses from board members were never received. Two board members — Connie Robinson and Lori Molus — both said they would have loved to been involved in the interview process but didn’t get that opportunity due to the technological error.

 

“I apologized, we apologized (Jurek and Malone) to Connie and Lori and we sat down to figure out what went wrong,” said Malone. “It was a communication breakdown and I am so sorry they didn’t get their chance to be involved.”

 

Molus and Robinson wanted to be involved due to finding out about  Januszewski’s background once they learned he was an interviewee. Molus and Robinson voted “naye” at the last board meeting to approve the hire of Januszewski.

 

Januszewski and Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Bryan Brown were featured in a couple of articles in the St. Cloud Times for their involvement in a longstanding practice of borrowing district equipment for their own use. Brown was also investigated for theft of public funds where he would “pocket” rebate cards instead of distributing the cards to engineers in the school district to purchase items for the district.

 

Januszewski was absolved in the investigation and never charged. The article, however, did mention Januszewski being charged with two DUI’s within the last two years.

 

“I am aware that Kevin’s name was in the news in his previous district,” said Malone. “I want to be transparent about this issue and fully disclose the situation to avoid any speculation regarding Mr. Januszewski. The school board hiring committee and I have fully investigated this issue. We are confident and excited for Kevin to begin serving as the Becker Director of Business Services on July 1.”

 

Malone said Januszewski participated in a four-month alcohol abuse treatment program and continues to be proactive in continuing treatment. Januszewski has provided Malone with information on the program and told him he can check in with the program’s supervisor to ensure Januszewski is continuing his healthy lifestyle.

 

“The St. Cloud Police Dept. conducted an investigation last year regarding activities occurring within the St. Cloud School District’s Buildings and Grounds Department. The criminal investigation exonerated Mr. Januszewski.”

 

Malone said Januszewski will begin “tagging along” with Prom up until Prom’s exit July 1. Prom resigned to be closer to home as he accepted a position in Sartell.

 

Januszewski has served as a Director of Business Services for 20 years at the St. Cloud and Westonka Public School Districts. Prior to that, he served as an audit manager for Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd., managing and directing school and city audits for eight years. As an adjunct instructor at St. Mary's University of Minnesota and College of St. Scholastica, Januszewski teaches accounting and school financial management classes to aspiring principals, business managers, and superintendents.

 

“We are fortunate to welcome Kevin as our next director of business services,” said Malone. “His experience, financial acumen, and congenial personality make him an excellent fit for the Becker School District.”