After retiring, McCann to take superintendent job in Nebraska

Shorewood - Superintendent Blane McCann will be heading to the cornhusker state when he retires in July.

On Monday, the School Board overseeing Westside Community Schools, a district serving residents in Omaha, Neb., hired McCann as its next superintendent in a 4-2 vote. He will receive an annual $185,000 salary in his new role.

McCann said he will assume the role July 10 - the day after he finishes his nine-year stint in Shorewood.

While he looks forward to new professional opportunities, McCann said winding down his remaining five months in Shorewood is a bittersweet occasion. He anticipates working with his successor in Shorewood before making the transition.

"I'm definitely going to miss Shorewood; it's a great community," McCann said. "I've made a lot of great friends during my time here, and my kids have received a great education."

McCann submitted his retirement request last month and, at the time, hinted his career in education might not be finished.

"I look forward to being the steward of another school district," McCann said. "(Westside Community Schools) is an outstanding district. I feel privileged and humbled. I'm excited about what's to come, and I think my family is excited, as well."

On Westside Community Schools' website, district officials touted McCann's various accomplishments throughout his career, including making decisions in Shorewood that led to minimizing classroom cuts, despite eight consecutive years of budget shortfalls.

The Shorewood School Board is in the midst of seeking its next superintendent and recently hired a recruitment firm to aid in the process. The board last month expressed a desire to gather input from all residents as candidates bubble to the surface.

- Dave Fidlin