New leader, board member chosen for Cape schools

It was a night of personnel changes for the Cape Girardeau School District.

Superintendent Dan Steska formally announced his June 30 resignation, Steve Trautwein was appointed to the board and current assistant superintendent Mark Bowles was given a three-year contract to be the district's next chief executive. It all happened at Monday's regular board meeting.

Trautwein, a 58-year-old biology professor at Southeast Missouri State University, was chosen unanimously by the board. He will be sworn in Oct. 8.

The board had to pick someone to fill a vacant seat opened by David Goncher's resignation Aug. 8. Goncher was first elected in 1997 and then re-elected to a three-year term in 2000. He said he resigned over the board's choice not to renew former Central High principal Randie Fidler's contract this year.

Trautwein will serve until an election in April, when voters will select someone to fill a one-year term.

Trautwein said one of his main interests is getting parents involved with their students and schools, but before he focuses on anything, he has a mound of materials to go through before he is sworn in.

Steska was supportive of Trautwein because of his involvement as a president of the districtwide Parent-Teacher Organization.

"I believe he has the respect of the community and board members," Steska said. "I think he'll do an excellent job."

He had kind words for Bowles as well. Having worked with his assistant for three years, Steska said he has gotten to know him as not only an educator but as a person, which is why he feels Bowles will maintain the integrity of the school district and take it forward.

Bowles said he can't help but feel like he has some big shoes to fill.

"He is such an honorable and admirable leader," Bowles said. "Superintendents' shoes are always big, but his shoes are huge."

Bowles said he is thrilled about his appointment and is more appreciative than he is anxious. It has been an outstanding learning experience to work with Steska for the past three years, he said, and he would have appreciated Steska staying on for years to come.

Steska has other plans. He said he felt the district was strong and the time was right for him to move on when his contract expires in June, even if it meant leaving behind some dear friends. "I'm leaving with good memories," he said. "And I'm leaving the district in very good hands."

Steska hasn't made any definite decisions concerning his future employment, so he doesn't know if he will stay in the Cape Girardeau area or not. But, he said, if he leaves Cape Girardeau he hopes to at least stay in the Midwest.

He came to Cape Girar-deau in 1999 and led successful campaigns for a bond issue and hefty tax levy increase. The district opened the new Blanchard Elementary School and Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center during his tenure and began work on a new Cape Girardeau Central High School.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128