SCHOOL BOARD NAMES ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education Monday filled five elementary school principalships and named a new assistant superintendent after accepting the resignation of assistant superintendent Dr. Richard Bollwerk.

In a whirl of names and schools, the board announced a new elementary school administrative lineup that includes recent retiree Barbara Blanchard.

Board members made a number of adjustments after accepting Bollwerk's resignation during a closed meeting prior to its open session. Bollwerk, assistant superintendent of elementary instruction, resigned to seek a superintendency in another district. His resignation is effective Sept. 30.

"The board is appreciative of all the fine things Richard has done for the district in his years of service here and we can certainly appreciate his desire for a superintendency," said Dr. Dan Tallent, school superintendent.

Bollwerk's resignation coincides with the final year the district will use the May Greene and Washington elementary school buildings. The two buildings will be closed and a new elementary school will open at the end of the 1997-98 school year.

The administrative opening at the board office allowed board members to make decisions regarding replacement of Bollwerk as well as permanent placement of Frank Ellis and Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld, principals of the two buildings closing after this year.

David Giles, principal of Alma Schrader Elementary School, will replace Bollwerk as assistant superintendent of elementary instruction upon his departure. Giles will be replaced by Ellis, former assistant principal at Alma Schrader, who was to begin his first year at Washington in August.

After leading May Greene through its final year, Kohlfeld will become principal of the new elementary school that will be built at Sprigg and Bertling streets. Former Washington school principal Blanchard, who retired just two months ago, will come out of retirement to serve the final year at Washington.

Tallent said the board's decisions were generally easy to make because all of the administrators had existing ties to various buildings. Giles' promotion was based on his tenure within the district, he said, and also because he is knowledgeable of the district's long-term plans.

"Frank Ellis was at Alma Schrader last year, and he already knew the parents and teachers and the kids out there, so it made sense to place him there permanently," Tallent said. "I visited with Barbara Blanchard because I didn't want the students and teachers at Washington to feel that we weren't concerned about their program, because we are. We convinced her to come out of retirement for one more year."

Tallent said he isn't sure where Bollwerk will be working next year.

Bollwerk didn't attend the meeting and couldn't be reached afterward to comment.