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FALCON, COLO. -- There are more changes for people living in Falcon School District 49 as the Superintendent announced his resignation Wednesday while the district plans to move forward with big changes in leadership through their "Innovation Initiative."

The Innovation Initiative was approved by the school board Jan. 20. Under the new structure the district will be split into "Innovation Zones" and no longer have a traditional superintendent role.

Current Superintendent Dr. Bradely Schoeppy said he supports the district's plans for restructuring, but he wants to be a superintendent, and he's decided to pursue his career elsewhere.

D49 board members said as they looked at a $4 million budget cut for next year, they felt it was was time to make some real changes.

"We know we've got to do more with less these days," D49 Board of Education President Dave Martin said. "We understand that every year that the state comes out with a budget cut that we can't just reprint money and regenerate funds."

Under the new Innovation Initiative a chief executive officer will oversee only the educational aspects of the district, and the superintendent's other responsibilities will be shifted to other employees.

"I want to be a Superintendent," Schoeppy said. "I want to be able to be over all of those things, and this plan doesn't allow that."

He said while the new plan doesn't suit him, he thinks it will beneficial to District 49 in the long run.

"I think it brings more resources to the classrooms," Schoeppy said. "I think it allows the community to have a lot more involvement in what's going on with the schools in their areas."

Because of contractual agreements, the restructuring will cost the district $1.1 million in buyouts, but board members said it will save $11.85 million over the next five years through the elimination of the superintendent, other executive directors, and a $2 million annual savings in transportation cuts.

D49 must buyout the superintendent, the chief information officer, the human resources director and the chief financial officer. Officials said those responsibilities will be distributed into "Innovation Zones" and allow principals and teachers to better direct decisions and respond to the needs of their schools and community.

"You should see some improvement in the schools," Martin said. "Are there gonna be mistakes made? Absolutely. That's what this plan does, it says 'ok we kind of want to decentralize things and push some that responsibility back down to the schools,'" Martin said.

Schoeppy will continue as superintendent until the end of the school year, or until he accepts a new position elsewhere, and help implement the new structure.

Board members said they are hopeful Mary Guinn, current deputy superintendent, will consider the position of CEO and said that they are currently in discussions with her.