Advertise
Contact
Forms
EEdition
Freeman Courier


  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Photos
    • Photos Of The Day
    • Photo Galleries
  • South Dakota News Watch
  • Archives
    • More Archives
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Obituaries
    • Photos
      • Photos Of The Day
      • Photo Galleries
    • South Dakota News Watch
    • Archives
      • More Archives
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
news
By JEREMY WALTNER  
September 27, 2023

BUSINESS OFFICE AT FREEMAN PUBLIC IN TRANSITION

JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER

A transition is underway inside the business office at Freeman Public Schools.

The Freeman Public School board last week accepted the resignation of Debbie Goossen, who started as an interim business manager in January of 2018 following the abrupt resignation of Ronda Rinehart and was hired to work in that capacity on a permanent basis in March of that year.

Goossen submitted her resignation — effective Monday, Oct. 2 — last Monday, Sept. 18, and the board met in special session Wednesday night accept her resignation with thanks for her service to the district.

Goossen did not elaborate on her decision, but told The Courier her resignation is for personal reasons.

Freeman Public has since hired an interim business manager in Tami Koppang, a retired 40-year career educator with background in school finance who lives in the Watertown area. Freeman Public Superintendent Jake Tietje said Koppang will start on Monday and work with Goossen on her final day.

“That’s important with a position like this,” said the superintendent. “Learning everything can be challenging, so this will help make her first few days a little easier.”

Tietje said the district found Koppang through the SASD (School Administrators of South Dakota), which has access to a pool of retired educators who may be looking for temporary work. She won’t be formally approved as the short-term interim until the October school board meeting, but Tietje said a small committee of school officials — formed at the same special meeting in which Goossen’s resignation was accepted — was permitted to appoint Koppang prior to official board approval.

Koppang will remain temporarily employed by Freeman Public through mid-December, which Tietje said should give the district time to find a permanent replacement for Goossen. An active search is underway through various forms of outreach, including advertisements in both the Area Wide Connection and Courier.

“There’s still a sense of urgency, but (with Koppang’s hire) the pressure is off and will allow us to do a proper search for that long-term hire,” Tietje said. “Our timeline is good.”

Related Posts
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store


Editor’s Picks
Most Read
AREA WIDE CONNECTION TO CEASE OPERATION JULY 1
news
AREA WIDE CONNECTION TO CEASE OPERATION JULY 1
By Jeremy Waltner 
June 11, 2025
The Area Wide Connection, a free-distribution advertising publication of Second Century Publishing, Inc. that serves residents of Hutchinson, Turner a...
this is a test
SAARIE AND HIS STOLEN POLARIS RANGER; THE REPORT
news
SAARIE AND HIS STOLEN POLARIS RANGER; THE REPORT
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 5, 2025
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story will appear in print in the July 9 issue of The Courier. Three individuals have been arrested and are facing state felony ch...
this is a test
FOR GOOD
news
FOR GOOD
By Jeremy Waltner 
June 18, 2025
Freeman 39-year-old recognized nationally for her work as an adoption specialist with the Children’s Home Society of South Dakota — but this is not ab...
this is a test
ALL IN THE FAMILY
news
ALL IN THE FAMILY
By Jeremy Waltner 
July 1, 2025
Forty-two years ago, his Grandpa Ted took over Ferd’s Market and renamed it Ted’s Market. Ten years after that, his dad, Bob, took over Ted’s Market a...
this is a test
PHOTO OF THE DAY: TACO TIME!
photo day
PHOTO OF THE DAY: TACO TIME!
By Jeremy Waltner 
June 13, 2025
Armando Cortez is enjoying the beautiful Friday morning and one of his passions — cooking — at his home at 300 S. Dewald in Freeman. Cortez is serving...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Freeman Courier

Stay tuned with us

Accessibility Policy
Privacy
Forms

Copyright © Freeman Courier. All rights reserved.