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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Ottumwa Community School District  Superintendent Davis Eidahl says when he came to Ottumwa in 2003, he never envisioned becoming a superintendent. It was only until after he advanced in his career that those ambitions came to mind.

"I have a vested interest in the school and the community and to be able to serve the community as superintendent is exciting."

Eidahl is hard at work and plans to innovate classrooms, increase reading and math test scores, close the achievement gap and garner a 100% graduation rate.

"We're working hard at creating 21st century classrooms, putting technology in the classrooms and the next step is providing teachers with support in how to use that technology and get it into the hands of our students."

Eidahl says continuing extended school days in the elementary schools will help improve reading and math test scores. Also, he wants to continue the district's plan that insures that every third grader finishes the year proficient in reading and math. He believes this continual improvement along with more parent involvement will lead to a higher graduation rate.

"I would like to see and work on having all of our students , 100% of our students, graduate from Ottumwa High School equipped and successful for the post-secondary transition."

Within the next three months, Eidahl hopes to move forward on plans for the construction of a new elementary school on the city's southside.  In September, the board plans to have open meetings to get input from the community on the new school. 

The Board is looking into closing Pickwick, Wildwood, and Agassiz Elementary schools and sending those students to the new facility, which is set to open in 2013.