Pasero formally approved as Chester superintendent

The Chester District 139 Board of Education officially has its next superintendent.

The board members unanimously voted July 20 to approve a three-year contract with Nashville High School Principal Brian Pasero as the new district superintendent.

Pasero, 41, steps into a position that became open when former superintendent Rick Goodman stepped down at the end of May.

Pasero also joins Chester High School Principal Missy Meyer, whose $84,800 one-year contract was also formally approved by the board last week, as new administrative hires in the district. Pasero will be paid a salary of $110,000, with $101,116.12 prorated as of Aug. 1 for the 2017-18 school year.

"I'm familiar with the area, I have been in this area for the last 15 years or so, maybe a little bit longer," Pasero said in an interview with reporters after the meeting. "The superintendent position is one I've been looking forward to through the classes and something I aspired to since I got into administration.

"I saw the posting and thought I might take the chance and put my name in the hat."

Pasero previously taught math and coached at Steeleville High School and will trade one bee for another in leaving the Nashville Hornets for the Chester Yellow Jackets.

"It's a good opportunity and a good district and I hear a lot of good things," he said of Chester. "I'm excited about being here."

Pasero was asked if he intended to eventually reside in the district.

"That's something my family has to discuss," he said. "I've got kids in school in Nashville and right now, that's where we're going to reside.

"We'll see going forward, but that's where we're going to stay."

Pasero said he has gotten a chance to meet staff and teachers and tour both CHS and Chester Grade School.

"Got filled in on a lot, that was really the biggest first steps for me," he said. "I'm going to continue to do those types of things over the next few days to familiarize myself with the school, district and town."

Pasero was asked what general goals he has for the district.

"Obviously, the budget is a big issue right now as it is everywhere," he said. "That's a big goal and the biggest goal is making sure the staff has what they need as much as we can and continuing the good things that are going on.

"Education is constantly changing as time goes on, our kids are learning different ways and just keeping up with those things."

Board President Mitch Hammel said Pasero's math background helped set him apart from the other 10 applicants for the position, with four of those also being interviewed.

"He came highly recommended and no matter what references you called, you never heard a bad word," he said. "It was pretty well the math issue that put him over the top."

Hammel was asked about bringing stability to the position with a three-year contract.

"My honest opinion with Brian is I think Brian is looking for a career and a place to stay," Hammel said. "I'm saying this because we checked references and basically that's the same thing they said, which is he's looking for a career and this where Brian wants to be as a superintendent and this is where he needs to be.

"We gave him that opportunity and I think that we're gonna be fine with it."