Iowa City Superintendent Lane Plugge wraps up duties

The Iowa City Community School District is saying good-bye to the man who has led the charge on some of the most controversial school issues in recent years.

Superintendent Lane Plugge is leaving the district to become the chief administrator at a new education agency in western Iowa. Friday was his final day on the job.

During the past 11 years, there's been no shortage of hot-button issues for superintendent Lane Plugge to tackle: Budget cuts, school boundary changes, and closing the city's beloved Roosevelt Elementary.

“That was probably the toughest one – the most emotional for our community – we spent 50, 60, 70 years building this community and then it's going to end, so that's tough,” said Lane Plugge, ICCSD Superintendent.

Plugge's most proud of the growth in educational programs in the district during his watch, especially preschool programs.

“If you really want to close the achievement gap, you can't start with five year olds. You have to start before and we've started with that journey in the state of Iowa,” said Plugge.

Plugge credits his colleagues for every success the district has reached during his tenure.

“Everyday when I came to work I like to think that I picked up my lunch bucket and came to make sure good things happened to kids,” said Plugge.

Plugge carries that same attitude into his new role.

“Passion for me now will be the same song, but maybe a different verse that we'll do all we can to help children,” said Plugge.

“There have been too many farewells. So it's been really hard,” said Plugge. He plans to return to the area often.

“Now that Nebraska is in the Big 10, I will be coming back at least every other year to the Hawkeye Nebraska game,” he said.

Plugge said his new job will allow him to spend more time with family.

His successor, Stephen Murley, from Wisconsin, starts next Thursday.