By Lori EhdeHigh School Principal Gary Fisher will start the new school year on July 1 in a new administrative position.During a special meeting Friday, School Board members hired Fisher to be the district superintendent."It’s a good opportunity," said Fisher, who’s been Luverne High School principal for 14 years. "I’ve been around long enough to know a few people and I think I know the district."He said he’s ready to embrace the challenges and changes that come with a new job, but he said he doesn’t want to lose his connection with students."That’s a major thing, and I’m going to work on that," he said.The advantage of a superintendent’s position, he said, is that he’ll be better connected with the elementary school now.In fact, all his duties will be district-wide. "School finance will be a challenge," he said. "I used to budget for my buildings (high school and middle school) but now I’ll be budgeting for the whole district."He said he’s comfortable with the overall health of the district."I think we’re really solid with our programs and curriculum," he said. "And I’ll work to continue that."Major hurdles on the horizon, he said, will be getting the referendum passed this fall and negotiating teachers’ union contracts this summer.The board approved Fisher’s superintendent salary at $99,000 plus benefits for the first year, with a 3-percent raise the second year.As principal, he was earning a base salary of $91,230.Fisher has his superintendent’s license and he’ll maintain the same duties that current Superintendent Vince Schaefer had, including Alternative School Director.Schaefer resigned from the post effective July 1, to pursue a position in the Beresford, S. D., district.Fisher said he applied for the superintendent position in Luverne six years ago when Schaefer was hired for the job."I’ve learned a lot from Vince," Fisher said. "I think I’m more prepared now after working with him for six years."He said the district ran smoothly under the teamwork of the two principals and superintendent."The last six years have been really good, and it’s because of a team effort on many of the decisions that were made," Fisher said."I want to find another person to work well with that team. He said he appreciates the board’s decision to hire him. "It makes me feel good to know I have support from the community," he said. "It will make the transition a little bit easier."