When graduation time rolls around next spring, Annandale Superintendent Steve Niklaus will join the Class of 2017 in saying his farewells to students and staff.
Niklaus, 64, announced in an email to school staff on Wednesday, Nov. 23, that he will retire at the end of the academic year after 25 years as superintendent and 31 total years with the Annandale district. His current two-year contract ends on June 30, 2017.
"Each year that I was here we had people eligible for retirement. Many would stop by here to talk about it. I’ve learned over the years that people know when it’s time," Niklaus said. "I knew in September that this would be a good time for me to go."
He waited until November to confirm that inclination, and said his announcement now will give the school board adequate time to go through the steps needed to hire a replacement. School board chair Jeannette Rieger-Borer said that the announcement was not necessarily a surprise, as Niklaus had preferred to work on short-term contracts in recent times, and that Niklaus would be difficult to replace because of his value to the district.
"Everyone is different in the way they manage, and you have to go into it with the thought process that you’re not going to get another Steve," she said.
Longtime elementary teacher Keith Aeikens, who worked with Niklaus on contracts for 18 years, agreed.
Leaders like Mr. Niklaus come along once in a lifetime," he said. "His decisiveness, focus, determination, passion and communication skills have made him a widely respected superintendent among the education community. He will be sorely missed."
Teachers, school board members and district staff contacted last week were unanimous in their praise of Niklaus as fair-minded, highly respected, personable and caring with both staff and students, and visionary.
"I think his steadiness and the confidence we had in his abilities, his foresight as to what would be best for school district and the wise decisions he’s made – we all had a lot of confidence in Steve," said Craig Dezell, the longest-serving teacher in the district. "I think all of our community, our school district, should be very pleased with the job that Steve has done for us. He has such a sharp mind and he’s kept up with the changing of the times and brought great stability to our school system."
School board member Katie Jones said the district has been fortunate to have Niklaus, who started here in 1986 as the high school principal and took on the superintendent’s role in 1992.
"Steve has done a fantastic job … we were lucky to have him for so long," she said.
Arriving and staying
Niklaus emerged from a field of more than 70 applicants to replace Charles Fisher as the Annandale High School principal in 1986.
The 36-year-old native of Belgrade had spent the previous six years as junior and senior high principal in Atwater and Atwater-Grove City. His education career began with four years of teaching and coaching in Oaks, North Dakota before he moved to his first principal position in Welcome for two years.
When he first arrived, did Niklaus plan on staying so long in Annandale?
"No. I never thought I’d be superintendent either," Niklaus said last week. "The principal’s job is the best job there is, because there are always things going on. There is always action. There are always decisions to be made. There is an energy level that’s fun to be around. I had no plans of being a superintendent."
When Annandale Superintendent Verle Connor retired in 1992, however, Niklaus said he applied for the position "mostly out of curiosity."
He was told by the school board at the time that an experienced superintendent was preferred, and Niklaus said was "perfectly content" to remain in his principal position.
After interviews with other candidates, however, board members called Niklaus over to talk as well and ended up giving him the job.
"I dove into a lot of things and learned a lot more about taxes and elections and things like that than I ever thought I would, but things worked out pretty well," Niklaus said.
What kept him in Annandale? The district size was ideal for having meaningful relationships with staff and students, and "being around here this long, I kind of feel like grandpa at graduation or open houses or back to school time," said Niklaus.
Only once, about 15 years ago, did Niklaus send out an exploratory application for another superintendent job in a suburban district, but he ended up declining an interview because he felt his roots were too deep in Annandale.
"I guess that is what kept us here, that this kind of became home," he said.
And it will remain so.
"We don’t plan to leave Annandale. It is home. And this is where we’re going to stay," he said. "I’m leaving school and don’t intend to be here and be a pest to anyone in the future, but I’m certainly going to those Cardinal athletic games and certainly going to stay involved with civic groups in town."
Building a future
The legacy Niklaus will leave with the district is punctuated with facilities upgrades that have made the district a sought-after destination, according to long-time elementary teacher Nancy Young.
She credited Niklaus with helping to build the new high school in 1992, with adding on to the middle school and with acquiring the Red Owl building to alleviate overcrowding.
That was followed by construction of the high school auditorium and track, by another remodeling project that moved the district office back to the middle school’s old industrial arts area, and by a move of the community education space to the former Red Owl.
The new elementary school was constructed, Bendix was razed and the Annandale Recreation Park is now being built.
In addition to physical projects, Young said Niklaus has kept the district on the cutting edge of technology with computers, smartboards, iPads, Chromebooks and more.
"Hundreds of perspective teachers apply here. Families enroll here. And because of his leadership our school district has grown," said Young.
Aeikens said Niklaus was indispensable in pursuing the building projects.
"He was the main catalyst behind these bond issues and referendums being passed by working tirelessly to explain to the voting public why these things were needed," he said.
Of six operating referendums that went to voters during Niklaus’ tenure (separate from bond issues) all six passed.
Personal touch
Along with treating employees fairly in contract negotiations, head of the district’s building and grounds Rick Walberg said Niklaus was always friendly and approachable.
"He makes the rounds. He doesn’t like to sit in his office," said Walberg. "He gets out and meets our teachers and our staff. He likes to talk to the kids too. He is going to be very missed. I’m hoping we get somebody that’s close to him as far as that goes."
School staff appreciated that accessibility.
"For the teachers in the district, Mr. Niklaus has been much more than just a boss. At times he’s been an educator, mentor, confidant, and friend," said Aeikens, adding that Niklaus has made a point to be present not only at school functions like concerts, plays and athletic events, but also at personal events like graduations, weddings and funerals.
Best and worst aspects
Niklaus said the part of his job he has disliked the most is making the call on whether to delay or cancel school during winter storms.
"You always want to make the right decision, but there are so many variables that are out of your control," he said. "Safety is of the utmost importance, but we’re also a commuter community, and our community depends on the schedule of the school, keeping it consistent and regular. I really disliked those days and didn’t sleep much when there were winter storms."
The most rewarding aspect of the potentially "lonesome" position, Niklaus said, was seeing the big picture.
"I’m kind of in the director’s chair. I can see the whole orchestra or band playing, and see the final product. And very few other people get the chance to do that on a daily or weekly or yearly basis," he said. "I like to be out in the different buildings and around what’s going on to get a sense of the current health and status of the schools, but I also get a look that very few people do."
While he has enjoyed his role, Niklaus said there are good people in place and it wasn’t a difficult decision to choose retirement.
"The school district is in good shape financially. Educationally, we’re in very good position. Our facilities have been upgraded considerably. It’s time for somebody else to take this in a new direction or to bring new energy," he said.
Starting at the school board meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, the replacement process will begin.
"We couldn’t have asked for a more organized, caring superintendent for our schools," said Rieger-Borer. "He’s going to be greatly missed."