Interim Superintendent Candidates Have Until Monday to Submit Names

Candidates for interim superintendent have until Monday to submit their names for consideration for a position  West Des Moines Schools officials hope to fill within a week to 10 days, the Des Moines Register reported.

While it’s important to have an interim superintendent on board before graduation so the appropriate authority can sign diplomas, the district imay  wait until after the September school board elections to formally select a replacement for Peter Ansingh, who was abruptly released from his contract last week in a.

What are the most important issues the new West Des Moines superintendent should address? What qualities would you like to see in a new administrator?

Ansingh, 58, also cited leadership changes in key positions, the district’s designation as a “District in Need of Assistance” and budget challenges expected to change “both what we teach and the way we teach.” District leaders are looking for ways to close a $2 million budget deficit next year.

Among the names suggested for interim superintendent was Lisa Remy, the district’s human resources director. Remy, who has not yet formally put her name in for consideration, was

Des Moines Register reporter Emily Schletter live-Tweeted the school board meeting. In one Tweet, the reporter quoted board member Kevin Carroll, who said he’s heard complaints that the school board is “out of step” with the school district.

Former board president Tom Suckow, who served when Ansingh was hired, said th school board has “mismanaged” the situation with the superintendent and put the district in a state of crisis, according to the newspapers Twitter feed. One teacher said superintendent’s firing caused “distrust” of the school board among faculty.

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