SCHOOL BOARD PICKS PRINCIPALS

After shuffling some personnel, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education hired two principals Monday night.

Randy Fidler, principal of Sikeston High School, was hired to replace high school principal Dan Tallent, who was chosen school superintendent after Neyland Clark's contract was not renewed.

Gerald Landewee, principal at Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Jackson for two years, was selected principal at Jefferson Elementary school.

Last month the board hired Bill Biggerstaff as assistant superintendent. He had been assistant principal at Cape Girardeau Central High School.

Fidler has been high school principal in the Sikeston School District since 1992. He worked as assistant principal and athletic director at the high school before become principal at Sikeston.

"We feel like he'll be good for the district," Tallent said, adding that school staff, parents and students served on the search committee.

Fidler's first job as principal will be to hire an assistant, Tallent said.

"We don't want to waste time and let a good applicant sign with another district."

The board didn't waste much time in hiring the new administrators; the positions were first advertised in January.

Landewee also taught at Nell Holcomb school for four years.

Tallent said the two men were chosen based on experience as principals in other districts. No candidates who work for the Cape Girardeau schools were interviewed because the committee wanted to hire someone with experience, he said.

Both men signed one-year contracts, said Dr. Bob Fox, board president. The board agreed last month to renew principal contracts for two years after an employee had been working in the district for at least five years.

In other business, the board discussed pending legislation that would allow parents to choose which school their children attend.

Ken Schaefer, a Cape Girardeau resident who helped draft the legislation, told the board it would benefit the district if it passes.

"It makes sense as a trial," he said, adding that only Jackson, Cape Girardeau and Nell Holcomb districts would likely be affected.

"They're not going to go totally bankrupt," Schaefer said. "Schools outside could receive students and wouldn't lose any."

The Missouri General Assembly will consider the bill this session.