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MONMOUTH, IL – The Monmouth-Roseville School District will have a new top administrator next year.
Ed Fletcher was being groomed to take over the Staunton district northeast of St. Louis. Instead, the Staunton High School principal will take over the as Monmouth-Roseville superintendent July 1st of 2012.
Fletcher will assume his new post July 1st of 2012.
He said his focus will be to prepare students for the "real world" once they leave school.
He said, "I think preparing student for gainful employment or preparing them for college are one and the same. That will be a focus."
Fletcher said the district's finances will be a challenge since state aid is inconsistent. He said he will bring a fresh perspective to the district's budget He expects to find some efficiencies in making purchases..
He has not been a superintendent before. He has served six years as a high school principal. He has also been an assistant principal at two other schools.
Fletcher has a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Board President Lynn Shimmin said the board felt Fletcher's background as a business teacher would serve the district well.
Shimmin said, "We felt that because we have been in financial problems we needed to maintain a business sense with our superintendent."
He also said "The other thing is a vision for the future of our school district. Where we're at now and where we want to be in five or ten years."
Shimmin expects few changes once the new superintendent is on the job. He said the board has already set goals for the district. A board committee is studying how to implement the standards for next year.
Fletcher will sign a three-year contract. He will succeed Paul Woehlke. The board decided not to renew Woehlke's contract.