It's the start of a new chapter for the Eau Claire Area School District.

Dr. Ron Heilmann began his duties as the new superintendent this morning.

The Eau Claire Area School Board decided to hire Heilmann at the end of March.

Now, three months later, he's taken the place of Interim Superintendent Dr. Jim Leary.

New Eau Claire Area School District Superintendent, Ron Heilmann, says it's refreshing to finally start his new job.

Ron Heilmann says, "It's been a little tough the last month to month and a half. I felt like I"I've been superintendent with a foot in two different communities. It's nice to be concentrating my professional efforts at this point on Eau Claire."

But Heilmann says he knows he has some work ahead of him, including taking a look at how the district works as a whole.

Ron Heilmann says, "We really need to look at what we do and how we do it, and then ask some very critical questions."

Heilmann says he wants community members to feel like they have a say in the School District.

Ron Heilmann says, "I think a lot of times people think we're just interested in talking with parents, but what makes a public school vital and very important part of our community is that we need to reach out to all folks, including those that may not have a connection with the schools."

And he says he's excited to be a part of learning in Eau Claire.

Ron Heilmann says, "The thing that attracted me to Eau Claire is a very very high degree of student achievement. In the past, a long history of a high degree of student achievement."

Heilmann begins his superintendent job in the middle of a controversy involving Former Superintendent Bill Klaus' contract and whether it was backdated and signed.

Heilmann says he thinks it's important for the District to continue to be very open with the public about why the School Board has taken action the way it has.