PERRYVILLE SCHOOLS CHIEF TAKES NEW JOB

PERRYVILLE -- Dr. Rex Miller, Perryville schools superintendent for the past three years, has been named superintendent of Windsor School District.

The Windsor Board of Education selected Miller for the top position during a meeting last week. He was one of seven finalists and 24 applicants seeking the position.

Randy Boyers, current superintendent at Windsor, is retiring after 13 years in the district. He worked 10 years as assistant superintendent prior to three years as superintendent.

Miller will begin work July 1. He will be paid $80,000 in the first year and $84,000 in the second year of a two-year agreement.

"For me it would be a really good move," said Miller. "I really was truly impressed with the board of education. It's an important thing for superintendents to feel really comfortable with board members."

Miller announced his resignation from Perryville schools in October. He said at that time the district's low tax levy and financial problems factored into his decision to resign.

The resignation was a joint decision with the board.

"My only regret is that I couldn't have done more for this community," said Miller. "It's been a good place for a superintendent to work, and I'll miss the wonderful people here."

Windsor's enrollment of about 3,100 tops Perryville's enrollment by some 700 students. The district also has a tax levy of $4.34. The Perryville district's tax levy is $2.70.

Miller said he plans to help board members meet the needs of the growing school district. Windsor's enrollment has averaged 100 more students for the past five years, and classrooms and buildings are becoming overcrowded, he said.

"They do face some challenges because they are a growing district," said Miller. "I plan to go in and talk with people and try to learn just as much as I can from the different stakeholders -- teachers, administrators, even the kids -- and find out their hopes and desires for the district."

Miller, 53, has been an educator for 20 years. He served as superintendent at the Osage County R-3 School District in Westphalia for four years prior to coming to Perryville. He formerly worked in the South Callaway and Wheaton school districts as superintendent and began his career as a high school history teacher in Indiana.

Miller and his wife, Kathleen, have three children.