Royalton schools make plans after death of superintendent

John Franzoia
Royalton Schools Superintendent John Franzoia was killed in a car accident this past weekend. A memorial service will be held at the high school on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Royalton Public Schools

School officials in the central Minnesota town of Royalton are planning a memorial service for their superintendent, who died in a car crash over the weekend.

John Franzoia's car was rear-ended Friday night, and he died the next morning. The State Patrol says officers detected alcohol in the car that hit Franzoia's.

Nearly 700 students attend Royalton schools - just north of St. Cloud. Franzoia, 62, was at the helm for the past 18 years. The district's school board will meet tonight to go over plans for Wednesday's memorial.

School Board member Don Lindberg was also a teacher when Franzoia was principal.

"He was probably one of the best principals I worked for in those years," said Lindberg. "And as a superintendent, I always thought he did the right things, as far as the buildings go and that."

The school board is also expected to hire retired Royalton superintendent Don Wilke tonight to lead the district on an interim basis. The board will discuss cancelling class on Wednesday, so students can attend the memorial.

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