Dr. David Benson Named
Finalist For Superintendent
After interviewing four candidates for the position of District Superintendent, the Board of Education has identified Dr. David L. Benson as a finalist for the position.
Dr. Benson is in his fifth year as Superintendent in the Ladue School District in St. Louis, Missouri. He previously served for 17 years as superintendent in school districts in Kansas and Iowa.
Dr. Benson earned his B.S. ED. and M.S. degrees from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS; an Ed. S. in school administration from Wichita State University in Wichita, KS; and a Ph.D in educational administration and Foundations from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
Dr. Benson will visit Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Dec. 10. During the day, he will tour the District and meet with small groups. In the evening, a community forum will be held to give parents, the public, and all staff the opportunity to meet Dr. Benson.
The public forum will be held on Wednesday, December 10, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Cedar Rapids Marriott Hotel, 1200 Collins Rd NE.
During that event, Dr. Benson will share comments, take questions, and be available to meet community members. The public is encouraged to attend and provide feedback.
The Board will now complete reference checks on the candidate, conduct a comprehensive background check, and visit Dr. Benson's current school district. Information collected at the public forum and from the site visit will be compiled for consideration at a Board meeting expected to be scheduled the week of Dec. 15.
Superintendent Dr. Dave Markward will retire at the end of June.