Justin Daggett

Matt Berninghaus

Now, the search has whittled down to two top prospects.

In a joint announcement from WCCSD and McPherson & Johnson, who has been consulting the district during the process, two final candidates have been selected for interviews. Those two final candidates are Matt Berninghaus of Center Point and Manson’s Justin Daggett.

Both Berninghaus and Daggett are currently superintendents of Center Point-Urbana and Manson-Northwest Webster, respectively.

Final interviews are being conducted today and on Tuesday, where numerous shareholder groups will meet with Daggett and Berninghaus. These groups will submit their input into the Webster City school board, before the directors come to their conclusion after the final interview.

Daggett has area ties, having been superintendent of Manson-Northwest Webster since 2017. Before being promoted to MNW’s top educator, Daggett joined the district as an elementary principal in 2012.

Prior to his time in Manson, Daggett was an elementary teacher and coach in Eagle Grove.

Berninghaus has been superintendent of Center Point-Urbana since 2016, following many years of holding various positions within the Armstrong-Ringsted and North Union school districts. In time with Armstrong-Ringsted and later North Union, Berninghaus was a vocational agriculture teacher, guidance counselor, at-risk coordinator, principal, special education teacher and coach.

According to the news release, WCCSD and McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. teamed up to conduct the search. McPherson & Jacobson reported to the district that 24 applicants applied for the position.

On Jan. 30, the firm provided background information on the applicants to the school board. The board of directors then picked five candidates, before interviewing them Saturday.

From the assortment of five prospects, the school board selected Berninghaus and Daggett.