The DeKalb school board announced the selection of Paul Beilfuss as the new school superintendent Monday night.

Beilfuss, former superintendent of the Wayzata, Minn., public school district with 9,500 students, will assume the $150,000 salary position in mid-August.

“I found him to be incredibly bright and knowing about school business, and he has a grasp about what communities like DeKalb need to be successful,” Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Jed Dunbar said.

Dunbar said Beilfuss, who has previous superintendent experience dealing with an $8 million budget reduction in three years in the Minnesota school district, has the familiarity needed to deal with the DeKalb school district’s $2 million budget deficit.

Beilfuss, who was not at Monday’s meeting, also turned the Wayzata school district into one of the highest-achieving districts in that state and oversaw several successful bond referendums.

The board also unanimously approved a $317,330 insurance contract with Canadian Life Insurance that will cover business property, general liability, automobile, crime, school board legal liability, student accident, boiler and machinery and workers’ compensation insurance for the 2004-’05 school year.

The district estimated the contract will save them roughly $100,000 over the year.

Also approved was the emergency designation needed to fix the Wright Elementary gym floor. On Memorial Day weekend, rain fell through the ceiling and covered the gym floor with 3 1/2 inches of water.

The school board estimated $88,000 will be needed to remove and replace the wood floor.