Wayne Slack.

DYSART – Union Middle School will begin the 2026-27 school year this coming August with a new principal at the helm following Wayne Slack’s resignation.

During a special meeting of the Union school board convened on Wednesday, June 3, directors approved Slack’s resignation from the district as part of the consent agenda. Previously on May 22, the Dike-New Hartford Community School District announced Slack had been tapped as the next principal of both New Hartford Elementary School and Dike-New Hartford Junior High School.

“As the superintendent, I am sad to see Mr. Slack leave Union. He has done a wonderful job as principal at Union Middle School. I certainly wish Mr. Slack the best of luck in his new position,” Union Superintendent John Howard said in a statement provided to the newspaper.

Similar to past practice, Union contracted with Grundmeyer Leadership Services to oversee its latest principal search. The position was posted on May 22 and the application window closed this past Sunday, June 7. As of Friday, June 5, Howard said the district had received 15 “quality applicants.”

“Grundmeyer personnel and district staff will collaborate and narrow the pool to three or four finalists on Monday morning (June 8),” Howard further stated. “All candidates have been notified of this ‘quick turnaround’.”

The three finalists were announced Monday and include the district’s current activities director and at-risk coordinator, Michael Bruns; Eric Butikofer, who was on staff at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids this past school year, according to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners licensure database; and Jesup Middle School Principal Gina Feldt.

Formal, on-site interviews were planned for Wednesday, June 10. The new principal is slated to begin on or around July 1. Per application materials, the salary range, excluding benefits, is $90,000 to $100,000 and will be determined based on experience.

On May 22, Dike-New Hartford posted to social media, “Mr. Slack has served as principal at Union Middle School in Dysart since 2021, where he led work in student support, standards-based grading, and school culture. Under his leadership, UMS was recognized as a National Showcase School during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Earlier in his career, Mr. Slack served as assistant principal and activities director at Union High School. He began his career as an eighth-grade teacher.”

Slack, then the school’s assistant principal, first served as interim principal of Union Middle School during the 2020-21 school year after Principal Mark Albertsen began a leave of absence on April 6, 2021. Albertsen resigned 10 days later, and Slack remained as interim principal through the end of the school year.

“I am excited and honored to accept the principal position at New Hartford Elementary and Dike-New Hartford Junior High,” Slack was quoted as saying in a KWWL report. “Having called this school district home for the past 20 years, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our students, staff and families.”

Telegraph Note: This story is publishing online in advance of this Friday’s print edition of the newspaper.