By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Two Tristate school superintendents have announced their retirements.

N. Kay Bowling, superintendent of Southwest Local Schools, retires Dec. 31. In Clermont County, New Richmond Superintendent Loren Wilson will retire next year for the second time.

Daniel Lawler, assistant superintendent at Southwest, has been promoted to superintendent of the 4,000-student district.

His appointment becomes effective Jan.1, with a contract extending to July 31, 2006. The board has not yet determined his salary. He's acting superintendent now because Dr. Bowling had accumulated vacation time.

"To start as a teacher and be able to advance in my administrative career with the same school district is unique and a real thrill," Dr. Lawler said. "I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities for our growing district."

Dr. Lawler, 46, wants to expand opportunities for students, from gifted kids in junior and senior high to at-risk students at the high school.

"We're losing too many kids who are falling behind in credits at the high school level. We want to provide some alternatives to get them caught up and keep them in school. That's our biggest concern from the state report card now - the graduation rate."

Dr. Bowling, 56, and her husband plan to move to the family farm in Kentucky. She was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Dr. Bowling is known for leading the district through a period of sustained growth. Improvements have been made on state proficiency tests and the district's facilities have been upgraded to handle the influx of students.

"The relationships she built with the employee groups were very positive and allowed the district to grow professionally," Dr. Lawler said.

Mr. Wilson, 64, will retire July 31 after three years with the New Richmond Exempted Village School District. The board will conduct a search for a new superintendent.

He spent his last 10‡ years at Milford as superintendent, retiring in January 2000.

"The teachers have bought into what we're doing," he said. "It's all heading in the right direction. I think it's time for me to step aside and have somebody else take over."

The 2,500-student district will be appealing to superintendent candidates, he said. "It's certainly a good place. We're in the continuous improvement area. We'd like to be at the top. We're working toward it. Dropout rates need to improve. If we can improve reading and math scores at the fourth- and sixth- grade levels, we'll be right where we need to be."

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com