Cape Girardeau school board hires new administrator

The Cape Girardeau School District has a new administrator.

Behind closed doors Monday night, the school board hired Patrick Morgan, a superintendent from Iowa, as the district's executive director of administrative services.

The hiring completes Cape Girardeau superintendent Dr. David Scala's restructuring of the district's top administration.

"Hopefully, it will make things more efficient," Scala said Tuesday.

Morgan will supervise human resources, and facilities and maintenance. He also will have oversight of school bus transportation.

Morgan is the second person to be offered the administrative services post. The board last month hired Dennis Heiman, a high school principal in Iowa. But he subsequently turned down the job.

Scala said Morgan has committed to take the job.

Morgan could start his new duties next month, Scala said. "We would like to have him on board before the start of school."

Classes start on Aug. 14.

Gerald Richards, who had been working part time as personnel director, will take over part-time duties as grants coordinator.

Morgan, the former superintendent of a school district in Parkersburg, Iowa, will make an annual salary of $77,598. But he will make slightly less this fiscal year since he will miss at least the first month of the new year that began July 1, Scala said.

As director of administrative services, Morgan will oversee facilities and maintenance which previously were handled by former assistant superintendent Rob Huff.

Huff resigned last month to take the job of superintendent of the Meadow Heights School District.

Pat Fanger, the new assistant superintendent and the former curriculum coordinator, will continue to focus on curriculum, Scala said.

"We felt like the emphasis should be on curriculum instruction," he said.

At Monday's closed session, the board also hired Nancy Ellis, a Jackson High School math teacher, to replace Scott Kuse as an assistant principal at Cape Girardeau Central High School.

Kuse resigned to take a position in the Affton School District in suburban St. Louis.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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