(Atlantic) The OA-BCIG School Board voted unanimously to hire Atlantic Community Schools Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Matt Alexander as their new Schools Superintendent. The board made their decision official during a noon meeting on Tuesday.
Matt Alexander will take over for Terry Kenealy who recently announced his resignation effective, July 1, 2018.
There were 18-applicants for the job. Five candidates were selected from that pool including Alexander. Kenealy says the board feels Alexander is the right fit for the district and the position.
“The members of the various committees and the board were real comfortable with Mr. Alexander as a good fit for the OA-BCIG School District, stated Kenealy, as far as an individual, background and preparation for taking this job. Even though he is a first-time superintendent they thought he was a good fit for the position.”
OA-BCIG, or Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek-Ida Grove, will officially merge into one school district on July 1, 2018. A facilities improvement bond referendum failed last fall, but the committee is currently surveying the community with a goal of the second election in December 2018.
“One of the first things Mr. Alexander will be faced with is picking up the reins with this project,” said Kenealy, adding he will help any way he can to help make it a smooth transition for Mr. Alexander. “This is a great school system and staff here with a great group of kids with a lot of community support. This is a great place for someone to come and be a superintendent.”
Matt Alexander, who has lived in Atlantic for 23-years, is in his 17th year in the Atlantic School District. He started out as a Math and Social Studies Teacher became the Schuler Elementary Principal and ACSD Curriculum Director and was hired as the High School Assistant Principal and Activities Director in 2013.
“This is a career I have hoped and studied for a while, but it also comes with mixed emotions,” stated Alexander. “I have lived in Atlantic for 23-years and have worked in the school district for 17-years. I have met a lot of great people and have had some wonderful opportunities. But I think it’s a great professional move and the right time for my family to make that move.”
Alexander says as he started looking for a superintendent’s position, his goal was to look in the area of northwest Iowa for several reasons. He is a 1991 graduate of Ida Grove High School, his son Austin will be a freshman on the Northwestern at Orange City basketball team this fall, and he’ll be able to spend more time with his family.
“It was a little odd walking back into the building I attended as a student. A lot of things were the same and a lot of things were different,” Alexander said, “But I could tell the district’s been proud of their facilities over the years and they want to keep moving that forward.”
The Atlantic School Board will act on Matt Alexanders’ resignation at Wednesday’s special board meeting.
