Scott Dill is set to sign a three-year contract that he says will communicate his intentions of staying put in Houston.
In executive session of last week’s meeting, the school board unanimously approved extending a contract to Dill through the 2016-’17 school year to remain the superintendent of Houston R-1 Schools. Dill said he will officially sign the contract Tuesday at the July regular board meeting.
“There had been some talk about, ‘How long is he going to stick around?’” said Dill, who in March was named one of Missouri’s outstanding new superintendents. “We have now answered that question. This contract, in essence, represents my promise to the school board and the community that I’m going to be around.”
Dill, 41, joined Houston Schools as middle school principal in 2007 and was named “acting superintendent” in December 2011. He was selected from a pool of 13 candidates in January 2012 as the new superintendent. His officially duties began that July.
After two bond issues failed under previous administrators, Dill led the way for a $4 million bond issue that passed with 72-percent approval in April 2013. Among the improvements are an expanded cafeteria, new library, roof repairs on four buildings, air conditioning in Hiett Gymnasium and connected the current middle and high school buildings.
Dill said the terms of his new contract will allow the district to dissolve the agreement without financial penalty during annual evaluation periods.
“There is no financial incentive,” Dill said. “This is all about my commitment to these kids, this school, these teachers and our community. I want to be part of what is unfolding here in Houston because it’s special. We have the opportunity as a group to change this school and community forever, and I want to be part of that.”
Also at last week’s meeting, board members:
-Approved the fiscal year 2015 budget presented by Dill.
-Heard an open house was June 28-29 at the building trades home. Bids will be accepted through 2 p.m. July 8 and reviewed at the next board meeting.
nEmployed Sarah James as a speech-language pathologist at the Exceptional Child Cooperative for the 2014-’15 school year.
-Approved transferring $785,010.72 from the operating fund to the teachers fund to zero it. nApproval was also given to transfer $33,582 as the allowable transportation transfer and $400,000 as the allowable Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) transfer from the operating fund to capital projects funds.
-Tabled discussion of the student handbooks until the next board meeting.
-Approved the final expenditure report for the 2013-’14 school year.
This is all about my commitment to these kids, this school, these teachers and our community. I want to be part of what is unfolding here in Houston because it’s special. We have the opportunity as a group to change this school and community forever, and I want to be part of that.”
PDF: Minutes from last week’s school board meeting