SCHOOL LEADERS

Recent decisions by the Cape Girardeau School board all indicate the district is headed in a positive direction. When it came time to choose a new superintendent, the board acted swiftly to consider two very capable candidates who were already in the district. And in selecting one of them, the board created an administrative team that can be expected to provide strong leadership.

Dan Tallent has been principal at Central High School the past two years. He also has previous experience as a superintendent. He is considered a hands-on administrator. He is generally applauded for his efforts to improve discipline, raise teacher morales and develop good communication with students and parents.

The other part of the new leadership team is Richard Bollwerk, who earlier was picked to be the acting superintendent. He will continue in that capacity until the end of the school year, giving continuity to both district administration and high school leadership.

Tallent and Bollwerk are a good pair to take the top jobs of the district's helm. First and foremost, they are both consummate professionals and work well together. Moreover, their strengths are complementary. Bollwerk is strong on secondary education and finances. Bollwerk is strong on elementary education and curriculum.

With this important decision made -- quickly and with apparent good judgment -- the school board can return to the all-important task of long-range planning that was begun last year. It will, no doubt, be of considerable comfort to board members to know that whatever plan is developed will be carried out by such able administrators.