Ness’ passion for education lifelong

By Matt Bewley | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, March 31, 2007

School district 544 Superintendent Jerry Ness is working hard to ensure the future of Fergus Falls education, championing the school re-structuring plan due to go before voters in May.

“I don’t know if people realize how important this vote is,” he said. “Right now, we’re spending money on the maintenance of these buildings that should be going into teaching and learning, where it belongs.”

He was born in Moorhead and spent the first five years of his life in Lawndale, just north of Rothsay. His father was a grain elevator manager there, and in Argyle, where young Ness attended school from first through 12th grade.

He was always an avid reader, enjoying mostly sports novels, and was on the school baseball, basketball and football teams. He played guard on two District 32 championship teams, but his forte was in football as a running back and defensive back.

For fun, the family went to their cabin on Lake Lida to fish and water ski.

He graduated in 1975, and attended Mayville State College near Grand Forks, N.D., majoring in accounting and playing on the school football team. He transferred to Bemidji State University the following year, where he met his future wife, Karen Krieger, who was in some of his business classes. In 1980, he graduated with a four-year degree in business and married Karen in June.

He went on to Herman-Norcross High School, teaching business and coaching various sports for 10 years.

In July of 1983, the couple had a son, Andrew, followed in November of 1985, by Jacob.

In the meantime, Ness had earned his master’s degree and accepted the assistant principal position at a middle school in Kenosha, Wis.

A year later, the family moved back to Minnesota where Ness served two years as principal for the Hoffman-Kensington school, grades seven through 12. In 1995, he became principal of the West Central Area school cooperative, serving six years.

In 1999, their son, Andrew was killed in a car accident.

Ness credits family, friends and their church family with helping them through terrible time following the accident.

His wife is starting a grief support group in Fergus Falls for families who have lost children.

Two years later, Ness accepted the position of school superintendent for West Central Area School in 2001, and also served as executive director of the Minnesota Rural Education Association.

The family remains active outdoors, and Ness and his son, Jacob play golf. They also enjoy travel, often down through Arkansas to Phoenix, Ariz., to visit family.

In 2006, he was hired as superintendent of District 544 in Fergus Falls. He arrived in Fergus Falls on the heels of a failed school referendum which residents here defeated overwhelmingly at the polls.

“What people have told me is that it cost too much,” he said of the previous building plan, “and at the same time, many were unclear about the buildings and the site.”

The new plan, of which he has made a point of providing ample information to the public, will go to the polls on May 8.

“My role with the task force was as facilitator,” he said. “To really ensure that all voices are heard. This will serve our students for the next many, many years.”