The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools superintendent, Dr. Charles Foust, has accepted a new position in North Carolina, according to a spokesman for the school district.
According to a post on the school district’s website by Board President Randy Lopez, Dr. Foust will be the new superintendent of the New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, N.C.
Dr. Foust was named superintendent of the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools in June 2018.
Lopez was elected to the school board helm on July 21 of this year, replacing Maxine Drew as board president.
Edwin Birch, spokesman for the school district, said the district most likely will have to start a selection process for a new superintendent.
Recently, the school board and Dr. Foust have been working simultaneously on the district’s annual budget and the school reopening plan, two major projects, and a board meeting has been planned for next week to discuss the school reopening details. Plans are for school to start Sept. 9, and to be conducted remotely for the first nine weeks. A public hearing on the school district’s budget, which is essentially a flat mill levy, was scheduled for August.
“We are grateful and appreciative of Dr. Foust’s leadership during his time here with us,” Lopez wrote on the district’s website. “His commitment and dedication to our students and their families will be missed.”
“Since becoming superintendent in 2018, Dr. Foust has been a valuable and well-respected leader for the district. His push for educational excellence through all levels of the district were evidenced by student gains and national recognition,” Lopez wrote.
Lopez continued, “We will maintain our focus on providing a quality education for students. Change is never easy but as we move forward, we appreciate the dedication and hard work of the men and women of our staff.”
“I am confident that we will continue to provide a safe environment and the highest quality education as we work to identify an interim superintendent and go through the process of hiring our next superintendent. The Board of Education will continue to work together, now more than ever, to guide our district and to inspire excellence, every grownup, every child, every day,” Lopez stated in his message.
Dr. Foust is scheduled to start his new superintendent job in North Carolina on Sept. 1, according to a news release from New Hanover County Schools.
I kinda figured we were a stepping stone for him. It’s tough to get someone who’s really good AND will stick around to provide stability. Good wishes to the KCKPS board on their search.