The Columbia Public School says Chris Belcher is ready to lead when Jim Ritter steps down as interim Superintendent. The decision came Thursday night after a two hour meeting. The change is to take place on July 1.

Belcher has served as superintendent of the Kearney school system near Kansas City since 2005. The Kearney system is nearly five times smaller than Columbia. District officials say Belcher's work in Blue Springs will help in his ability to control Columbia Schools.

"I worked with teacher grievances and discipline hearings in a school district - in that time we were probably 10,000 to 12,000 students," Belcher said.

Belcher agreed to be paid $180,000 a year, $20,000 less than what former superintendent Phyllis Chase earned. However, he says he has not signed a contract yet.

Belcher says his biggest concerns are planning a five-year budget system and balancing the budget. He says because he's new he won't have problems cutting programs others inside the district would have had loyality conflicts with. District workers say that a new superintendent will bring new morale to the community.

"I think the community, they have always been very supportive of the Columbia Public Schools and with a new superintendent I think they'll give him some space and watch how we move through this transitition and be ready to come back and support us again," said assistant superintendent Lynn Barnett.

"Now we have a new leader, people can take a look at Dr. Belcher, take a look where we are and only move forward," said Board of Education president Michelle Gadbois.

Belcher says he is looking forward to being in the same town his daughter will attend for college starting next year.