WEBSTER CITY — Following a couple of closed sessions, which included a final interview and some deliberation among the Webster City Community School District’s Board of Directors, a new superintendent has been selected.

Center Point-Urbana’s Matt Berninghaus was offered a contract to serve as the district’s next superintendent.

The joint Wednesday morning announcement was made by the WCCSD and executive consultant McPherson & Jacobson, LLC.

Berninghaus will officially begin his tenure on July 1, stepping in for Mandy Ross. Ross, the current Webster City superintendent, will retire from her position on June 30.

Berninghaus will head west this summer, after serving as superintendent of Center Point-Urbana, a position he has held since 2016. Before making the move east, Berninghaus spent many years within the Armstrong-Ringsted and North Union school districts, holding various positions.

Within his time up north, Berninghaus was a vocational agriculture teacher, guidance counselor, at-risk coordinator, principal, special education teacher and coach.

Final interviews were conducted Monday and Tuesday, with numerous shareholder groups meeting with the candidates Justin Daggett, superintendent of the Manson Northwest Webster School District, and Berninghaus. Their feedback was submitted into the Webster City school board before the directors came to their conclusion after the final interview.

Daggett has been superintendent of Manson Northwest Webster since 2017. He shifted over to MNW as an elementary principal in 2012, before being promoted to the superintendent position.

Before his time in Manson, Daggett was an elementary teacher and coach within the Eagle Grove school district.

WCCSD and McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. worked side by side to complete the search. The school administration consultant revealed that 24 applicants applied for the position at the previous school board meeting, which was held on Jan. 24.

On Jan. 30, the firm shared background information on the applicants to the school board. The board of directors followed up by selecting five candidates, before interviewing the final five last Saturday.

From these five prospects, the school board narrowed down the search to Berninghaus and Daggett.