The Prairie Home R-V School District will have a familiar face leading the Panthers next fall, when current principal Melody Paulson becomes superintendent.

Paulson’s promotion was approved at the Wednesday, Jan. 21 board of education meeting. Outgoing Supt. Jordan Hoecker, who will make his way to St Elizabeth this summer, says Paulson is lifelong Panther and should have a smooth transition.

Hoecker says Paulson was among a number of candidates brought forward by the Missouri Association for Rural Education, the organization that helped Prairie Home review applicants for the position. With Paulson moving up, Hoecker says the district will turn its attention to finding new principals for the district, as Paulson had been serving as the principal for all grade levels.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the Prairie Home school board accepted the lower of two bids for network management services from K-12 ITC. Hoecker says the move should save the district up to $15,000 over the five-year length of the contract.