St. Cloud School District Sets Special Election to Fill Resigned Board Member’s Seat

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Area Public School District has set a special election to fill the term of a board member who resigned this week due to health concerns.

Voters in District 742 will get to decide on Bruce Hentges’ successor on November 4th. The 75-year-old stepped down from the position due to a heart condition. Hentges spent 35 years as a teacher, principal, assistant principal, coach, and transportation director. After he retired in 2008, he became the head of the Local Education & Activities Foundation for District 742, a position he held until 2023.

Superintendent Dr. Laurie Putnam told KNSI News its hard to find a more dedicated person to the schools. “Bruce has been an incredible fixture in our in our district and school community, certainly as executive director of LEAF for so many years, he can do [so much] to impact us even when he was no longer our employee.”

She says it’s hard to find a better cheerleader for the district than the lifelong St. Cloud resident and alum. “He really exemplifies the Tech pride and Tech excellence, and of course, expands that to our entire district, and he will be deeply missed.”

They’re working with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office to set a candidate filing date. In the meantime, the seat will be filled by former school board member Al Dahlgren. He served three terms on the board and was the highest vote-getter not elected last year.

Dr. Putnam hoped to combine the election with April 8th’s referendum seeking improvements at Apollo High School, but due to state statute, there wasn’t enough time to add the item to the ballot.

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