Brandywine Superintendent John Jarpe won’t be leaving the district any time soon.

Jarpe received word Thursday morning that the St. Joseph Schools board of education decided to award its superintendent job to Ann Cardon, superintendent of Holton Public Schools.

Jarpe and Cardon were announced last week as the two finalists to replace current Superintendent Al Skibbe, who is retiring at the end of the year.

The finalists did another round of interviews with the school earlier this week.

“It was always a win win for me whatever happened,” Jarpe said. “Granted, there is some disappointment because what I had to offer was not what they had in mind. Anytime you do that in an employment situation or in life that is a disappointment, but I am not devastated.”

Jarpe became superintendent at Brandywine in 2007 after working 19 years in St. Joseph Schools as a principal and, for a time, special education director.

He said he loves being Brandywine’s superintendent, but viewed the St. Joseph job as an opportunity to have more responsibility and make a positive impact on a larger district.

Jarpe said the Brandywine and St. Joseph jobs are the only two he is interested in.

“I totally love the people and the students here at Brandywine and I am going to move on with the work it have here,” he said.

St. Joseph Schools received nearly 30 applicants for the job.