Embattled Lakeville North Activities Director—a Northfield Resident—to Step Down
Robert Ertl, Lakeville North's activities director who faced scrutiny following a June DWI arrest, is stepping down to return to the classroom.
Northfield resident Robert Ertl, who is Lakeville North High School's activities director, has been a man under intense scrutiny since his July DWI arrest.
Lakeville parents called for his ouster in December when he pleaded guilty to the DWI charge, despite Ertl having undergone rehab and working with district officials to keep his job.
As first reported on Lakeville Patch, Ertl, 47, pleaded guilty Dec. 20 to gross-misdemeanor DWI. It was his second alcohol-related arrest since 2008.
But on Feb. 26, Lakeville's School Board approved Ertl's resignation from his job as as activities director, with the plan to have him resume his teaching career as a social studies teacher.
Administrative Services Executive Director Tony Massaros said Ertl's resignation doesn't have anything to do with recent discussions with the School Board searching for $3.5 million in budget cuts.
However, his resignation fits into a plan that was announced earlier in February that would cut one of the two high school activities directors, saving the district $130,000 annually.
Ertl was scheduled to make $97,850 in 2012.
The scandal broke in December when Ertl, a 20-year District 194 employee, pleaded guilty to a June DWI. He received a stayed jail sentence but was fined $615 and given two years of probation, ordered to serve 10 days of electric monitoring and perform 240 hours of community service.
At the time, Lakeville Area Public School released a statement saying Ertl informed Superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder and Lakeville North Principal Marne Berkvam of the incident in June, shortly after it occurred.
"The Lakeville Schools’ administration fully supports Mr. Ertl and is confident that he will continue to provide positive leadership to our staff, students, and athletes," the statement said.
In the statement released by the district, Ertl said he was taking actions to get his life in order.
"I entered treatment seven months ago and have been sober since. I informed my supervisors about the issues when I began treatment and I am sorry and apologize to the district and the community for the negative impact this may have on our district," Ertl said.
kiffi summa
8:25 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Shame on Patch and on the reporter, Derrick Williams..
This sort of reporting has no community value; this is a personal issue, and NOT news. A change in a teacher's job status might only have interest to those within that school district; this looks like a shabby way to fill an empty page.
How many people in Northfield do you suppose have DWIs, or are in rehab, or have lost or changed their job because of those problems ? Are they all 'news' stories?
I had eagerly looked to Patch to be a viable alternate news source for Northfield; this sort of non-journalism will not achieve that goal.
Derrick Williams
10:38 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Kiffi, thanks for the comment. From my perspective: this was his second alcohol-related arrest in four years. Also, he's basically tasked with leading the school's anti-drugs and alcohol programs. He's in a very important role, and parents have the right to know, including Northfield parents who open-enroll in Lakeville. I'm sorry you disagree with that sentiment. As always, thanks for the feedback.
Curt Benson
2:16 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
I agree that Mr. Ertl needed to resign from his job as Lakeville North's Activity Director. A significant part of that job involves encouraging chemical free behavior and issuing punishments for those students who slip up. Maybe in a few years, he'll have credibility in that department. But not now. However, I do agree with Kiffi that the way this article is written is "shabby". This is news in Lakeville. To point out that Mr. Ertl is a Northfield resident just seems cruel. I wish the best for him.
Dr. Andrew Jackson
2:00 am on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
One needs to realize that one is not perfect. Even those that are held in position of authority. I do not agree of his stepping down. May this be a lesson to us all that we may make a mistake and fall but it may be a lesson not a condemnation?