NELL HOLCOMB MAKES CHOICE; DAVID FUEMMELER OF CAPE WILL SERVE AS SUPERINTENDENT

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Nell Holcomb R-4 Board of Education has picked a replacement for departing district Superintendent Wayne C. Pressley.

David Fuemmeler of Cape Girardeau will officially take over the position July 1. An educator with more than 20 years of experience, Fuemmeler, 44, is now principal at the Scott City junior and senior high schools.

Pressley is leaving Nell Holcomb to become superintendent of the Scott County R-2 School District. His first day in that position is also July 1.

Fuemmeler and Board of Education President Daniel Taylor signed a contract for his position a week ago Thursday, said board Treasurer Karen Fornkahl. But the decision to hire Fuemmeler, she said, was made by board members in a closed session two days earlier.

Neither Taylor nor board Vice President Robert Rubel were available to comment Thursday.

Fornkahl said Fuemmeler was chosen over 12 other candidates for the position. His contract covers a two-year period. Under the arrangement, he will make $47,000 the first year and his salary will be negotiable the next.

"I think he's going to be able to carry on where Mr. Pressley leaves off," said Fornkahl. "He really has some good ideas about Nell Holcomb and evidently he had given it a great deal of thought before his interview...."

Fuemmeler, a native of Scott City, has held his current position since 1986. Before that, he said, he served five years as assistant principal for grades 7-12 in the Egyptian School District in Tamms, Ill. Additionally, he taught 10 years in the district and worked two years as a grant coordinator, said Fuemmeler.

From 1985 to 1986, Fuemmeler said, he served as principal for kindergarten through the 12th grade at Dongola.

His first priority as Nell Holcomb superintendent would be to get to know the district's students, parents and staff members and to continue many of the improvements started by Pressley, he said.

"When I assume my duties, I welcome all the parents and citizens to stop by and get acquainted." He said he hoped to attend a Nell Holcomb Board of Education meeting, probably next month.

Fuemmeler said he wanted the job at Nell Holcomb because of the opportunity that went with the position. Nell Holcomb's academic program, he said, has a good reputation.

"I was impressed with the staff and it seems to be a very interested group of parents, and people just seem to be education-oriented," Fuemmeler said.

School board members interviewed six of the original 13 candidates before making their choice. Fornkahl said Fuemmeler probably edged out the other candidates in that he had experience at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Mostly all of the candidates interviewed by board members had the same qualities as Pressley, she said.

"We had asked a lot of people in the district what they wanted," Fornkahl added, "and they seemed to want the same qualities we had in Mr. Pressley."

School board member Kathy Stiehl said Fuemmeler seemed to fit in well with the district and that he would work with its teachers, who have put a lot of energy into new ideas.

"I'd say we were very impressed with his qualifications and we feel he will be able to continue to lead Nell Holcomb to be an excellent elementary school," she said.

Fuemmeler's wife, Cheri, is elementary counselor and special services director for the Scott City R-1 School District. The couple has one child, Stephanie, 22.