JANE LYNCH SELECTED NEW SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

(05/25/2007)
By Bob Weaver

Calhoun native Jane Cain Lynch has been hired to be the new superintendent of schools, replacing the retiring Ron Blankenship.

Lynch will be returning to the county from the WV Department of Education in Charleston, where she has been employed in the Office of Assessment and Accountability.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge," said Lynch, whose roots are wide and deep in Calhoun for several generations.

The Calhoun Board of Education met last night to make the selection.

Lynch will take-over management of the rural school system in July, which has 1,153 students - 671 at CM-HS, 248 at Pleasant Hill and 234 at Arnoldsburg.

Board president Lee Evans said the board received seven applicants and interviewed four candidates, two from the county.

"The board gave Ms. Lynch a two-year contract at $74,000, with six extra annual leave days," said Evans.

Blankenship had been earning $81,000, with a lean administrative staff.

Lynch, who has been in education for 30 years, had been the Federal Program Coordinator for the Calhoun system before taking the state position.

She has been a school principal in the county at Minnora, Brooksville and Calhoun Middle. She was also an assistant principal at Calhoun High.