New superintendent: 'Exciting things on the horizon'
New superintendent welcomes new ideas and input
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Rex Watson, new superintendent of Peabody-Burns schools, has his first official meeting with the USD #398 board of education under his belt. The new school year is fast approaching with all the details and challenges that accompany opening the doors on the first day.
Added to that list for this superintendent are three new untested school board members and a high school principal as new to the community as Watson himself. Plenty to pile on the plate of a new top administrator.
But for this interview, the newest occupant of USD #398 central office skipped over any potentially troublesome issues and cut straight to a discussion of the positive things he sees in the district's future.
"The thing that excites me the most is a new program we are implementing for students who are at risk," said Watson. "This is something we can accomplish that will make a real difference for some of our students."
Peabody-Burns Success Center is the name selected for the program by the board of education at the July meeting.
Watson said the program is not for special needs students or for students with behavioral issues, but is designed to help those who aren't making satisfactory progress in their classes.
"It will address academic issues. The success center will be a problem-solving program. We want to get the students back on track," he said. "This is a 'credit recovery' program.
"Suppose we have a student who, for whatever reason — problems at home, frequent moves, or having to work to contribute to family income — failed English and math in her freshman year. Suppose things have turned around somewhat for her and she is making better grades, coming to class regularly, and it looks like she could graduate," he said.
"But there are those failing grades from a couple of years ago. What do we do with her? Do we put her back into freshman classes and hope for the best? Do we say, 'sorry, you screwed up before so you have no chance of graduating'? Where do we go with her?
"This is where a successful 'at risk' program can serve the student and the district so well. We put her into the Peabody-Burns Success Center in pass-fail classes and we help her recover those lost credits," Watson said.
Watson has an expressive face and his enthusiasm for finding solutions that will help students and the district is apparent when he talks about his hopes for Peabody-Burns schools.
"If I had thought that this was a perfect district with no problems, I wouldn't even have applied for the job," he said. "And I'm not trying to be negative because I think USD #398 as well as the Peabody and Burns communities have lots of pluses and lots to offer.
"But I think there are still some races to be run here. I like the challenge of facing a problem, figuring out a solution, and then implementing it," he said.
He likens his job as superintendent to his hobby of rejuvenating rusted hulks of old cars into street rods and hot rods worthy of trophies and recognition in national trade magazines.
"I think there are exciting things on the horizon for our district," he said. "The success center is only one."
Watson and his wife Caron already have been guests of both the Burns and Peabody senior centers. "Of course many of them are worried about taxes and increasing the mill levy," Watson said. "And there are still some hard feelings at Burns over the loss of their school.
"But several people came up when the meeting (in Burns) was over and said they hoped for the best for all the students in the district," he added. "I can't undo what happened. We have an obligation to the students who are enrolled right now. We owe them an education."
Watson noted that he feels school finance is a game. It is up to district leaders to get as much state and federal money as they can to fund education so the tax bill to patrons is as small as possible.
And he expressed the opinion that economic development is never a reason for a community to keep its school. "Many small towns look at it as such, but from an educational standpoint, that is not valid," he said.
"The ONLY reason we open the doors of these buildings is for the students. It's not for the teachers, not for the cooks, not for the bus drivers, or the administrators, and certainly not for community development," he said.
"The only entitled people in a school district are the students — they are why we are here. It is our job to provide the best education possible. That is our only job."
Watson says he is committed to an open door policy. "Obviously I enjoy visiting," he said with a smile. "I hope patrons will take the time to come in and talk to me.
"I can't solve all the problems, but I can listen. And as I said I do enjoy a challenge," he added. "I'm nothing special. I'm just an average Joe and while I have respect for this position, I sometimes am surprised to find myself in it!
"I welcome anyone to come in and visit with me," Watson said. "We have work to do and progress to make in this district."
