By MaryHelen Swanson

The Rush City Area School District has a new superintendent. After final negotiations with Jacobson Elementary Principal Vernon Koepp April 27, the school board voted unanimously to hire him for the position.

Koepp, who has been with the school district in teaching and administrative capacities for 28 years, 15 in the classroom and 13 as elementary principal, began his new job immediately. The school board will now advertise to fill the principal's position at the elementary school.

According to school board chairman Paul Pasche, the district will be contracting with former superintendent Tim Eklund for some consulting services, also.

James Redfield, hired last spring to be superintendent, was recently moved to special assignment completing a one-year contract in June with an extended 3-month addendum.

Pasche said Thursday morning, April 28, that he is absolutely pleased with the selection of Koepp and feels he is very competent to fill the position.

Koeppís salary will be prorated for May and June of this year at a $96,000 salary and he will receive $96,000 for the 2005-06 school year. In 2006-07, his salary will be $100,000.

This week, after running between the elementary and high school buildings, Koepp said he is excited to take on the new challenge and is eager to have a different perspective in the district.

He also said he is excited about the things the district has coming up in the future.

And he said, the district has a good staff that he feels will help with the transitions that may come about.

There will be staffing changes and, Koepp said, changes that come down from state and federal mandates.

Koepp said the district can look at them as problems or opportunities.

Most importantly, he said, is how do we make the best of the situation for the students.

There'll be no shortage of issues, he said.

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