Long-time superintendent retires
Principal Virgil Poisal shakes the hand of Superintendent Kenny Southwick after hearing the news of his retirement.
Elizabeth Hughey, A&E editor
April 30, 2010
Filed under Student Life
On June 30 of this year the Belton School District will say goodbye to its long time superintendent Dr. Kenny Southwick. For 34 years Dr. Southwick has had education related jobs, and 22 years of it was spent in Belton. He has done many thing with and for the district in those 22 years.
“We’ve accomplished a lot,” Southwick said. “And I couldn’t have done it by myself.”
From the start, he said he knew that he wanted to work in education. He went right into Maryville College and graduated after four years.
He said when he first started that there were not a lot of the buildings and athletic fields that BHS students know and see today. When he first started in the ’98-’99 school year there was no Grace Elementary, Kentucky Trails, Mill Creek Upper Elementary, the tech building, the baseball fields, the football stadium, the high school forum with the music class rooms or a grounds program. Some of the elementary schools didn’t even have library’s, but book carts that were pushed from class to class.
“I believe environment is important,” Southwick said. “I want people to drive by and say, that looks nice, I want my kids to go there.”
His motivation for making the district better was the students, that the students deserve it. To plan for the improvement they have “Strategic Planning.” There are 30 people (parents, students, teachers, and board members) who are represented in the community and they meet every five years to come up with a new plan, and meet every two and a half years to check on the progress. The next new Strategic Plan will be this Oct. and will set the road map for the new superintendent.
“We had some vision through our strategic plan and a lot of people energized to try and do the right thing for the students,” Southwick said. “I wanted Belton kids to have what Park Hill kids had, and what Blue Vally and Lee’s Summit kids all had because you guys [the students] deserve it.”
Even after he retires he said he has plans to stick around to help the new superintendent in transition and still be part of the community.
“I’ll continue to work with the district to help the new superintendent in transition and answer questions,” Southwick said.
Most people look forward to retirement with great plans, Dr. Southwick has the same agenda in mind. Ever since he graduated college, he’s yet to have a summer break. He said he’s always been in school, working or planning a construction project. However, after June 30 he’s a free agent.
“After June 30 I’m spending a week with family and friends,” Southwick said. “We’re going fly fishing, to rodeos and to see fireworks. Also later in the summer I’m taking about a 5,000 mile motorcycle trip to California. When we get to the ocean we’ll stay a few days and then head back home.”
He said there is a lot about this job that he’s not going to miss, like the stress and pressure from the federal government about the students testing scores. However, he said he was going to miss student coming to talk to him and going to graduation, the people and walking through the buildings.
“The way you should look at it is that we’re all replaceable,” Southwick said. “This district has been around for 140 years and I’ve basically just been a “temp” for 22 years. When I’m gone someone new will come in and say, ‘Okay here’s where we are today and here’s where I want to take it.’ When we quit trying to get better, that’s when we’re on the fast track downhill.”
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Wow. This is very big and very depressing, for the students, teachers, and staff. It looks like the Class of 2010 will be the final class that Dr. Kenny Southwick will see graduating. We will miss him very much, especially for everything he has done for the community, and students. He is right, we all deserve quality equipment like what Lee’s Summit, Park Hill, and Blue Valley have. I’d like to thank him for making the new stadium complex possible. I will never forget playing, marching, and running at the new facility on senior night. This being my last year, I would like to wish the best for everyone; Kenny Southwick, the teachers, coaches, and students.
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