Perryville school board hires new superintendent

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Assistant superintendent Kevin Dunn will succeed his boss as superintendent of the Perryville public schools.

The school board voted in closed session Wednesday to promote Dunn. School officials announced the hiring Thursday.

Dunn will replace Beverly Schonhoff, who resigned to take a job as superintendent of the Hillsboro, Mo., public schools.

The Perryville district received more than 20 inquiries regarding the position and reviewed nine applications, officials said. Dunn was selected from among three finalists.

Dunn has 25 years of experience in three Missouri school districts. He has served as assistant superintendent in the Perryville school system for five years.

Board president Scott Cooper said Dunn has a "passion" for quality education. "His knowledge and insight is invaluable and will help the district make a smooth transition as we move forward providing a quality education for the students of Perry County," Cooper said.

The district, he said, will immediately begin a search to hire an assistant superintendent.