DELTA SUPERINTENDENT TAKES COLE COUNTY JOB

DELTA -- Former Delta school superintendent Larry Beshears has accepted a position with the Cole County School District.

Beshears was introduced as the new superintendent at a Cole County Board of Education meeting Monday night. He replaces Dr. Ronald Kettler, who left after one year in the district.

"I am leaving to accept a position closer to my parents in St. Louis," Kettler said Tuesday. "I'm not sure when (Beshears) was hired because I wasn't involved in that process. I'm sure (Beshears and I) will at some point sit down and discuss what's going on in the district, and I am leaving him papers to look at and review."

Beshears was out of town and could not be reached to comment.

He resigned as Delta superintendent during a board of education meeting March 13. Although his resignation was effective March 14, he received his salary through the end of the fiscal year.

Board members gave no explanation for the mid-year resignation. He had been superintendent of the district since 1990. Beshears has said he did not provide the board members with any reasons for his resignation.

As Delta superintendent, Beshears was instrumental in getting funding to repair deteriorating facilities within the district. In April 1993, Delta voters passed a $1.05 million school bond issue promoted by Beshears. A new high school was built and several buildings within the district were repaired with funding from the bond issue.

Cole County School District is at Russellville. It recently received full state accreditation after a Missouri School Improvement Program review in October. The district is nearly twice the size of Delta School District.

Districts at a glance

Beshears will lead a much larger district next year.

COLE COUNTY R-I SCHOOL DISTRICT:

Located in Russelville, Mo., near Jefferson City

1 elementary school

1 middle school

1 high school

Approximately 691 students, 70 certified staff

DELTA R-V SCHOOL DISTRICT:

Located in Delta, Mo.

1 elementary school

1 high school

Approximately 363 students, 37 certified staff