Sathoff finalist for job as Indianola?s superintendent

Fairfield Community School District Superintendent Art Sathoff notified area media and district employees that Indianola Community Schools is announcing him today as one of two finalists for superintendent in that district.

A decision is expected in Indianola by March 24, according to the district?s central office.

Sathoff said he applied for the job in Indianola after much reflection and for a variety of reasons.

?Fairfield is a great place to work and learn and live,? he said in an email. ?I have made that comment a number of times and believe it wholeheartedly.

?I am very happy in my personal and professional life and couldn?t be prouder of our students and staff,? said Sathoff.

?School board and community relationships here are strong. I intended to stay and retire in Fairfield, and have not applied for any other jobs [during] my five years here until I was sought out for a unique opportunity.?

He described Indianola as a great college town of 15,000, with special sentiment for him.

?I spent a lot of time there growing up, visiting my great uncle and aunt, Arthur and Meryl Eady; I am named Arthur Meryl for them,? he said.

?My uncle was a counselor at Indianola High School for 25 years, a minister in town and an adjunct professor at Simpson College late in his life.?

The Indianola district has a stable enrollment of 3,500 and a 98 percent graduation rate, said Sathoff.

?I never want to be a ?big city? superintendent, but I would be lying if I said stable enrollment and more resources in a town not that different from Fairfield aren?t attractive,? he said. ?The location is a factor, too. Being close to, but not in, Des Moines would often be handy, and our travel to many of our son?s [Trey] games would be cut in half.

?Salary is a factor, too, but is honestly down the list a ways,? he said.

?I want to emphasize that everything would have to be just right on both sides and an offer made and accepted before any of this matters,? said Sathoff.

?Meanwhile, I am very committed to my work here and thankful for what I have. I know there has already been some talk about this position, but I wanted to inform staff before it became public in Indianola.

?Thanks for your understanding and support and for the great work you do,? his email to staff concluded.

Sathoff has been superintendent in the Fairfield district for three years and was principal at Fairfield High School two years prior to taking the superintendent?s job. He taught at Pekin Community High School in Packwood for several years before taking a job at Fairfield.