The Festus R-6 Board of Education has hired a new assistant superintendent – Lucas McKinnis – to replace Nicki Ruess, who previously was promoted to superintendent.
McKinnis, 37, currently is the superintendent at Newtown-Harris R-3 School District in Newton near the Iowa border.
Both McKinnis and Ruess will begin their new duties at Festus R-6 on July 1.
The school board voted unanimously April 19 to hire McKinnis as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.
The district has a second assistant superintendent – Jonathan Earnhart, who’s in charge of business services and personnel.
McKinnis is paid a $72,500 annual salary as the superintendent for the Newtown-Harris School District, which enrolls about 75 students. He will earn a $136,500 salary next school year for the Festus School District, which enrolls about 3,250 students.
Ruess’ current salary as assistant superintendent is $145,000. She will make $175,000 as superintendent next school year.
She said McKinnis stood out from the other 11 applicants because of his experience as an administrator.
“I think one of the reasons Dr. Lucas McKinnis rose to the top was he is currently serving as a superintendent,” she said.
Ruess said she looks forward to McKinnis joining the district’s administrative staff.
“As I move into my new role, he’ll be a great addition,” Ruess said. “I’m excited to welcome him to the Festus R-6 School District.”
McKinnis said he is familiar with the Festus School District and looks forward to his new job.
“They have that culture of learning, culture of excellence,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of it.”
McKinnis originally was from Michigan, but moved with his family to southeast Missouri when he was in the fourth grade.
“I have some family who still lives there (southeast Missouri),” he said.
McKinnis is a graduate of Twin Rivers High School in Broseley in southeast Missouri. Prior to becoming the Newtown-Harris superintendent, he was a high school principal in the Bernie School District in Stoddard County in southeast Missouri. He also previously worked as a social studies teacher in the Dexter and Bloomfield school districts, also in southeast Missouri.
He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, a master’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a doctorate in education from St. Louis University.
McKinnis and his wife, Karen, have three daughters and intend to move from northern Missouri to the Festus district, he said.
“We’re looking to live in the district,” McKinnis said.