Belvidere High in market for changing of the guard Saturday, April 05, 2008 • By SARA K. SATULLO • The Express-Times BELVIDERE | The Belvidere School District is advertising for a new high school principal. Joe Flynn, the high school's principal for the past two years, is not leaving the district, said Dirk Swaneveld, the district superintendent. Flynn replaced Swaneveld when he became superintendent. Flynn is a tenured assistant principal with the district and could return to that job, board President Brian Smith said. "If we do hire a new principal he will go back to assistant principal," Smith said. Flynn declined comment. No one incident precipitated the change; rather it was an accumulation of things, Smith said. "The district needs to go in a different direction and this is best for all concerned," he said. "I like Joe. I think he's a great guy and he has a lot of friends in the district and it's not personal." Smith said the high school principal is one of the most important jobs in the district. "We are always looking to improve academic achievement and communication within the school and continually trying to improve the atmosphere and increase morale in the school," Smith said. "I don't think those jobs ever end. The high school principal along with the superintendent needs to be a community leader and set the tone for the district." Smith said he has been in favor of making a change to address those issues. He did not know how many years Flynn has been with the district or his salary. The school is also advertising to fill three high school teaching jobs, three elementary school jobs and four substitute teachers. Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com.