Mike McNeff, high school principal at Velva, has been selected as the superintendent of Rugby Public School District. The Rugby School Board approved the selection of McNeff at a salary of $95,000, with health and other benefits, at their June 12 meeting.

McNeff will begin his new position on Monday, July 2.

“I am very excited and looking forward to being Rugby’s superintendent,” said McNeff.

McNeff did his undergraduate work in social science education at Valley City State University. In 2004, he taught social science at Dakota Prairie School, Petersburg. He then taught at Devils Lake while working on his masters degree in Education Leadership. He left Devils Lake to accept the position of high school principal at Velva, where he has served for the last three years.

He is married to Mandy Schall, who grew up in Rugby and is the daughter of Carlotta and Duane Schall. They have two children, Mya, 5, who will be in kindergarten here; Eli, 2, and a new baby is expected June 30.

Jared Blikre, the new junior high and high school principal, was in attendance at the school board meeting.

The last phase of the school renovation and addition project is underway with a target date of completion of August 15. The $7 million project has been in progress for the past two school years.

The annual school board election was also held on Tuesday, June 12, at the school with board members Susan Schmaltz and Mark Hamilton re-elected to the school board for another term.

The school board thanked Mr. Jeff Lind for his 11 years as superintendent for Rugby. The June school board meeting for Rugby was his last.

“It’s really been a positive experience and it is bittersweet leaving after 11 years,” said Lind. “I really appreciate the opportunity.”