Mark Stotts joined the Austin School District as Director of Finance and Operations Monday.

The lifelong resident of Albert Lea is the former business manager of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. He was with the district for more than three years.

Before that, Stotts worked with Albert Lea Public Schools for about 12 years.

He said his main concern in his new position will be securing funding to maintain the programs and facilities of the district.

“My biggest priority is to make sure that the resources we are given are used in the best possible way,” Stotts said. “The biggest challenge, in the whole state, is a shortage of funding.

“I am very concerned about what the legislature is going to be doing this next session,” he said.

In Austin, Stotts said, the referendum is going to be very important.

“Facilities like the Ellis science wing addition… and programs like full-day kindergarten show a strong system here. The district has been successful, and I would like to see that continue,” he said.

Stotts holds a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and a master’s in business administration from the University of St. Thomas.

He and his wife of almost 25 years have one daughter. She is studying education at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Stotts replaces long-time employee Lori Volz, a resident of Blue Earth, who resigned from Austin and took a similar position with Albert Lea Public Schools.