TALLENT TO DIRECT PERRY COUNTY HIGHER ED. CENTER

Former Cape Girardeau school superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent has been hired as director of the Perry County Higher Education Center.

Tallent began his new job July 1. He is charged with developing, implementing and expanding education programs offered at the center.

The center is in a former grade school at Sereno, about five miles east of Perryville on Highway 51.

Mineral Area College at Park Hills, Southeast Missouri State University and the Perryville school district established the center in 1994.

Mineral Area College manages the center. College spokesman Tracy Santhuff said Tallent will be paid $50,000 under a "consulting contract" approved by the Mineral Area College trustees.

Tallent will report directly to Dr. Dixie A. Kohn, Mineral Area College president.

The center is designed to meet the higher education needs of students, business and industry in Perry County and surrounding communities.

Tallent's hiring comes at a time when local civic and economic development leaders are studying the possibility of finding new quarters for the school.

The existing center isn't air conditioned. It is small and in a remote location.

Bob Ray, executive director of the Perry County Industrial Development Authority, said he and others would like to see the higher education center moved to new quarters in Perryville.

Last fall, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, then Southeast's president, discussed the possibility of relocating the center to one of the St. Mary's of the Barrens Seminary buildings in Perryville.

At this point, civic leaders haven't settled on a location.

A committee, set up through the efforts of the Industrial Development Authority, raised $50,000.

The committee has hired the St. Louis consulting firm of Fleishman Hillard to assess educational needs in Perry County and parts of surrounding counties at a cost of about $25,000.

"We are targeting high school counselors, business leaders and community leaders," said Ray.

The needs assessment work began June 1 and should be completed in six to 10 weeks, he said.

The consultant is expected to make a final report by October.

If the report shows the need, the committee will proceed with efforts to set up an expanded higher education center in Perryville, Ray said.

The city of Perryville, Perry County and the Perryville Development Corp. each contributed $15,000 to the project. The Perryville Chamber of Commerce has provided the other $5,000.

Any of the money that isn't used will be refunded proportionately, Ray said.

Kohn said Tallent was chosen to direct the center because of his past administrative experience.

"He brings with him many abilities -- his significant experience within the public school system and strong leadership skills," said Kohn.

The 51-year-old Tallent has experience as both a classroom teacher and public school administrator.

He ran the Cape Girardeau public schools as superintendent from 1996 through the end of June this year.

Tallent also served six years as state supervisor of 63 school districts in southern Missouri for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Tallent also serves as lieutenant colonel in the Missouri National Guard. He recently took command of the 1138th Engineering Battalion headquartered in St. Louis.

Tallent wants to promote and improve the services offered at the center.

"My primary goal is to establish the Perry County Higher Education Center as a place where people know they can come and earn a two-year degree from Mineral Area College, or a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University or another four-year institution," Tallent said.

Tallent earned a doctorate in philosophy from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He also holds two master's degrees in education administration, as well as a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Southeast.