New faces lead Eastern Iowa districts at start of school year

The academic year has started for the majority of the Grant Wood Area Education Agency's 32 school districts. Here's a quick roundup of information about the superintendents guiding these school systems.

-Seven districts -- North Linn, Clear Creek Amana, Springville, Central City, Anamosa, Lisbon and Mount Vernon community schools -- have new superintendents this year.

-None of the new superintendents were internal hires.

-Four of the seven new superintendents -- Tim Cronin of Central City, Karl Kurt of North Linn, Gary O'Malley of Mount Vernon and Brian Ney of Springville -- were most recently administrators at other Grant Wood Area districts.

-Two of those new superintendents -- Gary O'Malley and Tim Cronin -- held their previous positions in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. O'Malley was a deputy superintendent and Cronin was principal of Kenwood Elementary School.

-Bill Lynch, superintendent of both the HLV and Belle Plaine Community School Districts, is the area's longest-serving superintendent. He's been the HLV district's head administrator for 33 years.

-Only one of the new superintendents, Lisa Beames in Anamosa, is a woman. Two of the administrative vacancies arose from departing female superintendents: Denise Schares in Clear Creek Amana retired and Pam Ewell of Mount Vernon resigned.

-Brian Ney is the interim superintendent of the Springville Community School District. Prior to this role, he spent three years as interim superintendent in the Anamosa Community School District.