Charles City school board selects superintendent finalists

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City School District Board of Education has announced three finalists in its search for a new school superintendent.

Following a closed session meeting with consulting firm McPherson & Jacobson on Monday, April 22, the school board has narrowed down its search for a new superintendent to three candidates: Steven Barber, Gary Benda, and Brian Burnight.

Barber has been a superintendent in three Iowa schools since 2013, most recently starting as the superintendent in Grinnell-Newburg last year.

Benda was recently the shared superintendent at Starmont and West Central for the 2022-23 school year and previously a superintendent for the Columbus Junction school district.

Burnight served as the Sioux City School District’s Director of Elementary Education from 2012 to 2023.

Interviews with the three candidates will be conducted on May 6, where teachers and the public will have the opportunity to meet with them and submit their input to the school board.

The board intends to make its selection on May 7.