Supt. Pat Fanger

For the next six months or so, the Cape Girardeau school board is putting its trust in Pat Fanger to lead the administrative staff as interim superintendent. The appointment was made official last week after the board had picked Fanger to step in after the board unanimously fired Dr. David Scala.

During those six months, the school board plans to hire a new superintendent to take over July 1. Some board members have indicated a desire to have the permanent choice made by the end of January.

But the board and Fanger, who has been a top administrator in the district for several years, will have to give their attention to much more than a superintendent search. The current school year will have to be wrapped up. Close tabs will need to be kept on the district's finances, which have experienced more ups and downs in recent years than any district should have to endure.

In addition to finances, interim superintendent Fanger will have to deal with all the other issues that face a good-sized district: curriculum, No Child Left Behind, Missouri Assessment Program testing, overcrowding at Central High School. capital needs, hiring teachers and principals,

We wish Fanger the best of luck with the hope that she will help steady the district through some wobbly times. In doing so, the board will be able to focus of finding the best person to be the next superintendent.