District plays musical chairs with jobs Belvidere High's principal new superintendent. Vice principal now principal, teacher also promoted. Monday, August 07, 2006 • BY LYNN OLANOFF • The Express-Times BELVIDERE | The school board didn't have to look far when seeking new administrators for the upcoming year. They were found in the high school office. Dirk Swaneveld, last year's high school principal, is the district's new superintendent. Joseph Flynn, last year's high school vice principal, is promoted to principal. "We want to be able to retain good staff rather than bring in people not familiar with our culture," school board President Brian Smith said. Swaneveld said he plans to continue much of the district's existing culture. "My philosophy has been you make as few changes as possible. I think you have to come in and really get a feel for the position," said Swaneveld, who started July 1. "There's been so much administrative turnover in the district and there have been so many people that have changed things so quickly that the changes didn't stick." Jean Atkin Gool left the district after two and a half years as superintendent to serve in that position in the Keystone School District in Knox, Pa. Swaneveld has a commitment to the district, he said, which is the reason he wanted the superintendent's job. "I believe in this district. It's a small district, it's small town U.S.A., where people know one another, they support their school, they support their kids," he said. He hopes to help solve some of the district's challenges, including its budget woes and outstanding teachers contract. The district is about to enter state mediation on the contract that expired in June. "We value our staff even with our financial issues," Swaneveld said. "We need to be competitive with the other school districts to keep quality people." Gool recommended Swaneveld for the superintendent's job and Swaneveld, in turn, nominated Flynn for his old position, Smith said. Lelia Pappas, who last year worked as a teacher at Hope Township School, has taken Flynn's old position. After working under Swaneveld for three years, Flynn said he already has a lot of knowledge to serve as principal. Serving as vice principal, the school's disciplinarian, is important because it gave him daily contact with students, Flynn said. "It gives me a very good perspective on what goes on on a daily basis," he said. "I think it's important to sit in the vice principal part of it to be principal." Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.