ST. LOUIS AREA MAN PERRYVILLE SCHOOL CHIEF

PERRYVILLE -- Dr. Stephen Doerr of St. Louis County edged out Cape Girardeau schools superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent to become the next superintendent of the Perryville School District.

Doerr and Tallent originally competed with 14 other applicants for the position. They were interviewed and met with district patrons Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Perryville Board of Education unanimously selected Doerr Wednesday night. Doerr, presently director of assessment for the Rockwood School District in St. Louis County, will begin a three-year contract July 1.

He will replace Dr. Rex Miller, who announced his decision to leave the school district in October. Miller, who is completing the last year of his three-year contract, will work through June 30.

"We were fortunate to have two very outstanding candidates with a lot of good characteristics and strengths, and we feel like we picked the candidate whose strengths matched the needs of our district," said Dennis Martin, Perryville school board president.

Martin said the board also benefited from the knowledge and leadership of Dr. Paul Turner, a former school administrator who served as consultant during the superintendent search.

"His efforts were nothing short of exemplary, and his advice and counsel were invaluable," said Martin.

This marked the second time Tallent has been a finalist for Perryville's top position. In 1996, he withdrew from consideration after accepting the superintendency in Cape Girardeau.

He announced in June he would not renew his contract in Cape Girardeau.