The Columbus Community School Board has selected the individual who will serve as next school year’s superintendent and high school principal. Gary Benda, middle school principal at Keokuk, has been offered the position. The consolidation of the two roles is part of a plan to address the district’s deficit spending.

The plan Columbus has sent to the state school budget review committee identifies $1.42 million in cuts, but an additional $62,000 in cuts need to be made to fix their budget problem.

Current superintendent Marlene Johnson submitted her resignation in January, something she stated she would do to help deal with the district’s negative spending. She’s since taken the superintendent position at Tipton School District. Johnson and Benda will begin serving in their new roles July 1st.