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West Salem High School Principal Troy Gunderson said his decision to apply for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District superintendent job was “extremely difficult” but would be a good career move.

As announced last week, Gunderson — the WSHS principal for 15 years — is one of two final candidates for the G-E-T superintendent position. Lisa Snyder, principal at Holmen Middle School, is the other.

According to G-E-T School Board President Tanya Gendreau, the board held final interviews last week and met again on Monday. She said no decision has been made yet, but the board is currently in contract negotiations.

Gendreau said the board tentatively plans to meet again today, June 26, when a decision could be made. The G-E-T School District began looking for a new leader when Superintendent Craig Gerlach accepted the same position for the Monona Grove School District in Monona, Wis., earlier this year.

Gunderson said he felt the superintendent’s job would be a good career move for him, although it was a hard decision for him to make because of the relationships he’s formed during his time with the West Salem School District.

“It was extremely difficult,” said Gunderson, 46. “For any of us, it’s about people and relationships — whether it’s kids and families, board members and neighbors.”

Gunderson said he and wife Jill, who live in West Salem, have been discussing what they want to do in the future once all their children have graduated. Their oldest, Kelsey, graduated in 2007 while Kirsten will be a senior next year.

Jill teaches at Melrose-Mindoro Junior High School, and Troy said they want to remain living in the area. He said the opening at G-E-T was all about timing.

“Superintendent jobs are often about timing,” Troy said. “You have to be the right fit at the right time. It’s the only superintendent position I’ve ever applied for.

“It’s not about being displeased with work here (at West Salem), it’s about the opportunity to do something different. And maybe it’s time for someone else to do something different here; this is a great place to be.”

West Salem School Board President Errol Kindschy said the school board isn’t taking any action at this time and is waiting to see what happens.

“We’re just sitting tight and waiting,” Kindschy said. “There are no plans made. Obviously we’ve done some thinking, but we’re just waiting to see what happens.”

Kindschy said should Troy leave, it would be a loss for the school district.

“Obviously I think it’d be a loss to our school system should Troy decide to take the job,” he said. “But, on the other hand, I can’t blame him for trying to improve himself in going up in the administrative world.”

West Salem School Superintendent Nancy Burns agreed.

“Troy has done a great job,” Burns said. “Should he leave, he’ll be missed.”

Troy is the longest tenured principal at WSHS in its 128-year history. Prior to being hired in August 1993, he was principal at Princeton High School in Princeton, Wis., from 1992-93. Before that, he taught math and computer science and was the athletic director in the Melrose-Mindoro School District from 1985-92.