After 18 years of first class leadership at the Belle Plaine school system, Superintendent Lonn Poage is retiring.
Earlier this month the USD 357 Board of Education hired Dr. Rose Kane to take the helm.
"I am very much looking forward to coming to Belle Plaine," Kane said yesterday via phone.
For the last four years she has been the Superintendent and preschool through eighth grade principal at USD 291 in Grinnell. Before her time at the Grinnell school system, she was a principal at a Dodge City elementary school.
Debra Mansch, Belle Plaine School Board President is also excited about Kane coming to town.
"It just seemed to be the best fit for us personality wise and focus wise," Mansch said. "We're just excited to have her. It'll be different but it will be new and fresh and she got a whole new set of ideas and a whole different perspective on things."
Mansch said there were 25 applicants for the school's Superintendent job. It was a grueling process but the board feels like they chose the best candidate for the position.
On February 1, the school board ratified Kane's contract. Kane said she was impressed with what Belle Plaine had going for it.
"Primarily I thought it was an outstanding school district," she said. "With the academic achievement that they have, their emphasis on technology and the pro-curricular programs that they were able to offer."
Mansch said Kane also had a lot of qualities the district was looking for.
"She's very strong on curriculum, she's very strong on early childhood," Mansch said. "She's very strong on communication with the board and the staff and the administration and the community."
Mansch also said the newly hired superintendent is personable and knowledgeable.
"...She seemed really excited when we told her that the band had come back from the Cotton Bowl and the singers had gone on the cruise and sang at Disney World..." Mansch recalled. "She was very excited about those programs and our focus towards keeping those programs and the continuity from the elementary all the way through the high school."
Cutting the budget has been the common theme for all school districts in the state. Belle Plaine has had to cut a million dollars from their budget already and Mansch said more cuts are in the forecast.
"We've cut everything we can cut except staff and programs," Mansch said. "If it in fact is going to come down we're going to have to look very hard at where we can spread our teachers out..."
Kane is well aware of the issues that face the Kansas school system and likes the steps her new school district has taken.
"From my visit to Belle Plaine, the board is very active in communicating with their legislators and I think that needs to continue," Kane said, "as well as parents and teachers need to communicate their thoughts and desires and needs for education funding to our legislators..."
To help Kane make the move to Belle Plaine, outgoing Superintendent Poage is helping out by keeping her informed.
"I've already began receiving information so that I am up to date on what's happening to the district and how they're planning for the next fiscal year," Kane said. "So hopefully the transition will be very smooth."
The school board president said that Belle Plaine has had to make some though decisions over the years regarding the budget but the students have always come out on top.
"That's what we're the most proud of," Mansch said, "and I think with Dr. Kane the kids will still probably come out ahead."
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After 18 years of first class leadership at the Belle Plaine school system, Superintendent Lonn Poage is retiring.
Earlier this month the USD 357 Board of Education hired Dr. Rose Kane to take the helm.
"I am very much looking forward to coming to Belle Plaine," Kane said yesterday via phone.
For the last four years she has been the Superintendent and preschool through eighth grade principal at USD 291 in Grinnell. Before her time at the Grinnell school system, she was a principal at a Dodge City elementary school.
Debra Mansch, Belle Plaine School Board President is also excited about Kane coming to town.
"It just seemed to be the best fit for us personality wise and focus wise," Mansch said. "We're just excited to have her. It'll be different but it will be new and fresh and she got a whole new set of ideas and a whole different perspective on things."
Mansch said there were 25 applicants for the school's Superintendent job. It was a grueling process but the board feels like they chose the best candidate for the position.
On February 1, the school board ratified Kane's contract. Kane said she was impressed with what Belle Plaine had going for it.
"Primarily I thought it was an outstanding school district," she said. "With the academic achievement that they have, their emphasis on technology and the pro-curricular programs that they were able to offer."
Mansch said Kane also had a lot of qualities the district was looking for.
"She's very strong on curriculum, she's very strong on early childhood," Mansch said. "She's very strong on communication with the board and the staff and the administration and the community."
Mansch also said the newly hired superintendent is personable and knowledgeable.
"...She seemed really excited when we told her that the band had come back from the Cotton Bowl and the singers had gone on the cruise and sang at Disney World..." Mansch recalled. "She was very excited about those programs and our focus towards keeping those programs and the continuity from the elementary all the way through the high school."
Cutting the budget has been the common theme for all school districts in the state. Belle Plaine has had to cut a million dollars from their budget already and Mansch said more cuts are in the forecast.
"We've cut everything we can cut except staff and programs," Mansch said. "If it in fact is going to come down we're going to have to look very hard at where we can spread our teachers out..."
Kane is well aware of the issues that face the Kansas school system and likes the steps her new school district has taken.
"From my visit to Belle Plaine, the board is very active in communicating with their legislators and I think that needs to continue," Kane said, "as well as parents and teachers need to communicate their thoughts and desires and needs for education funding to our legislators..."
To help Kane make the move to Belle Plaine, outgoing Superintendent Poage is helping out by keeping her informed.
"I've already began receiving information so that I am up to date on what's happening to the district and how they're planning for the next fiscal year," Kane said. "So hopefully the transition will be very smooth."
The school board president said that Belle Plaine has had to make some though decisions over the years regarding the budget but the students have always come out on top.
"That's what we're the most proud of," Mansch said, "and I think with Dr. Kane the kids will still probably come out ahead."
