Search is on to replace Perryville superintendent

The search by the Perry County School Board to find a replacement for retiring superintendent Kevin Dunn took another step during a special work session of the board Wednesday night.

The school board met to discuss and review applications they received for superintendent of the Perry County Public Schools. A search has been ongoing since the beginning of the school year.

The deadline for applicants was Nov. 1.

According to school-board president Tina Littge, the applicants to succeed Dunn are of high quality.

"We've got about 15 applications to review," she said, "and I have to say that I've been impressed with the caliber of the applicants."

Dunn will retire as superintendent at the end of the school year after holding the position since 2007. Before that he was assistant superintendent at Perryville for five years and was principal at Fredericktown High School from 1987 to 2002.

Dunn said that he's looking forward to helping the new superintendent when the transition period begins.

"It's been a pleasure to serve the Perry County school district for eleven years," he said. "My successor will find many wonderful people to work with once he or she is chosen," he said. "The staff I've been blessed with is remarkable, and they've made my job here so much easier for me. And I'm sure the community will make the new superintendent feel most welcome as was the case when I arrived."

Dunn also spoke of his achievements while superintendent.

"I'm very proud of the high academic-achievement distinction our schools have gained over the last three years. Nothing makes you feel as good as knowing that the students you oversee are excelling. But I'm also proud of how we've improved teacher pay schedules in the district. We were able to do that while strengthening the district's finances as well. We're going to be debt-free by March and that, obviously, is something I am quite pleased with."

Littge said that she and the other members of the school board will be sad to see Dunn go.

"I'm happy for him being able to retire," she said. "He's been a great superintendent for the Perryville schools. He'll be leaving a school district that he helped to put in good financial shape. But make no mistake, we're going to miss him."

The superintendent position is expected to be filled by mid-December.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address: 326 College St., Perryville, Mo.