It’s official: Atlantic Athletic Director and Assistant High School Principal Matt Alexander will become the new Superintendent of the Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek/Ida Grove School District, effective July 1st. The OA-BCIG School Board offered him the job last Saturday with a verbal commitment, pending their meeting today (Tuesday), during which the offer was affirmed.

Matt Alexander

Alexander sat down with the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss the offer, which he said he “Was pleased to receive.” He said also that “It’s an opportunity for me to advance my career, something I’ve studied for and hoped for, for a while. It always comes with mixed emotions…leaving somewhere I’ve been for a long time. I’ve been in [Atlantic] for 23-years, and the school District for 17. I’ve met a lot of great people and had some wonderful opportunities….I think it’s a great professional move, and it’s the right time for my family to make that move.”

He said as for his replacement, and where Atlantic Athletics go from this point forward, that will be up to the Administrative team, who will work with the School Board, to determine how they will fill the position (including looking at other options, such as split duties).

He said the opportunities to serve in a variety of roles in the Atlantic School District has prepared him for the leap to Superintendent. Learning about Iowa School Finances has also helped to prepare him for “the next step.” He said also, he’s looking forward to the challenge. As for what he leaves behind, Alexander said the District’s Athletic facilities and school security need to be priorities, especially in light of the recent shootings in Florida, and other threats around the Midwest that have people on edge.

OA-BCIG he says, also are working on improving their athletic facilities. Alexander is originally from Ida Grove. He’s a 1991 graduate of the former Ida Grove High School. He said “It was a little bit odd walking back into the building that I attended as a student, but a lot of things were the same, but there also a lot of things that had changed. I can that over the years, the District has been very proud of their facilities and I want to keep moving that forward.”

He said when he began the search for a superintendents position, his goal was to look in northwest Iowa to be closer to his family. The Atlantic School Board is expected to act on approving Alexander’s resignation during their meeting Wednesday afternoon.