Diane Johnson picked for open board seat

UPDATED: This post has been updated to clarify that if a petition protesting the appointment is valid, the board will appoint a different person.

The Cannon Falls School Board appointed longtime resident Diane Johnson to fill an open position on the board.

Johnson was one of 10 applicants for the position.

She was chosen with the support of three of the five board members.

Two board members -- Bob Britnall and Bill Thompson -- voted for Luke Winchell.

“I was surprised to see 10 names on the list,” Thompson said.

Board member Brenda Owens said the applicants submitted “very thoughtful responses.”

The board made the decision without discussing the strengths of any of the candidates. Each candidate had submitted an application answering questions about their background and their vision for the school district.

Johnson will replace Anna Olson who resigned from the board in September.

Johnson must wait 30 days after the vote to begin serving on the board, which would be Nov. 25. She will serve until the next school board election in November 2022 when Olson’s term would have expired.

There is a wrinkle. A petition could be submitted protesting the appointment. Facebook posts following Johnson’s appointment stated that a petition was being considered. The 30-day delay in having Johnson join the board is to provide time for a petition to be circulated and submitted.

District Superintendent Jeff Sampson said if the petition is valid, the board will appoint a different person. 

After the meeting, Johnson said she has no intention of running for the seat next year, her application for the board was “just filling the vacancy.”

In her application, Johnson noted she was a 1971 graduate of Cannon Falls High School.

“I have deep roots (fifth generation) in  Cannon Falls/White Rock/Vasa,” Johnson wrote. “My nieces and nephew graduated  from CFHS and I hope to see my  great-nephew and great-niece become  graduates of CFHS.”

She said she wants to help the district cope with the many challenges it faces.

“The district is facing many challenges in the midst of a community with diverse ideas and strong opinions,” Johnson wrote. “I would hope to be respectful of all ideas/opinions, while working to ensure the best learning environment possible for our students, teachers and staff.”

She noted the school continues to perform well despite the pandemic.

“We have dedicated and talented  teachers that seek creative ways to  engage our students in learning and  growing,” she said.

Olson cited personal reasons when she resigned. Her decision came after a contentious August meeting when the board decided to recommend but not require masks for students and staff.

On the Olson For Cannon Falls School Board Facebook page, Olson posted on Sept. 16 that she had tendered her resignation.

“When I ran for my board seat I did so because I felt there was a gap needing to be filled by a parent with younger students in the district. My family knew we’d need to make certain sacrifices in order for me to serve, but I had their full support. However, over the past few weeks it’s become clear that my being on the board is having a negative impact on my kids,” Olson wrote. “I did my best, and sometimes that means knowing when it’s time to step away.”