Familiar Face Takes the Helm as Michael Rivard Becomes Superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephen School District

(KNSI) — There is a new man on campus in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District, but he has a familiar face.

Superintendent Michael Rivard took over his new role on July 1st. The former assistant superintendent for the St. Cloud Area School District has lived in Sartell with his wife and two children for 23 years.

He says the biggest immediate challenge will be tackling financial issues, including a $1.7 million deficit. “We have to ensure that we’re doing our best to advocate with the legislature to properly fund schools. So I think that’s one of the things that I see as a challenge not only for the Sartell St. Stephen’s school district but for all school districts.”

As a parent of two District 748 graduates, he knows firsthand about its 98% graduation rate and a teaching staff where 75% of instructors have a master’s degree. Rivard says one of his jobs will be to keep that rate of excellence up. Rivard says secondary to that will be community communications. “What I’m also looking at is how I’m strengthening community relations and making sure that our families and community are in partnership with the school district. That they have an opportunity to be involved in what’s going on.”

When he’s not working in education, Rivard loves to fish and work out. His favorite food is pizza, and his favorite sweet treat is ice cream.

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