New superintendent faces many challenges

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education took a chance on school superintendent Mark Bowles.

The same night his highly successful and popular predecessor, Dan Steska, announced his retirement, he recommended his assistant as a replacement. The board accepted the suggestion.

There wasn't any national search. There weren't any tours of the district or two-day-long job interviews. Just a simple vote of approval and the complete confidence that Steska could name his own replacement with the same aptitude with which he led successful campaigns for a bond issue and tax levy and oversaw the openings of two new schools and the beginning of construction on a third.

But there are other reasons for that confidence. Bowles has three children in the school district. He's been a high school science teacher, an assistant principal, a principal and finally Steska's assistant superintendent. He was groomed for the position. He's nearing completion of his doctorate in administration.

And now, with the district in transition, he has a chance to test his mettle. With the opening of the new Central High School this fall, the major shift in grade configurations in the district will begin in earnest. Bowles will have to be sure the change works in practice as well as in theory.

Cape Girardeau's schools are the finest they have ever been, thanks to major improvements in recent years. The new superintendent deserves the support and encouragement of the community at this critical time in the school district.