PERRYVILLE CHOOSES SCHOOL CHIEF

PERRYVILLE -- Dr. Rex Miller will become the new superintendent of Perry County School District No. 32.

During a closed meeting Friday night, the board voted unanimously to hire Miller. A salary package was still in the works late Wednesday.

Miller, 50, is currently superintendent of Osage County R-3 schools in Westphalia, near Jefferson City. He has been superintendent there for four years. He also worked in the South Callaway School District for several years.

Although his contract with the Perryville district hasn't been finalized, Miller has accepted the job. The salary package will be about $70,000 plus out-of-district mileage and benefits.

The board met again in closed session Wednesday night to finalize the deal.

"I'm very pleased and look forward to coming to Perryville" Miller said during a telephone interview with a Southeast Missourian reporter. "There's a time lag; I have some things to finish here and some obligations to help them in their transition," he said.

Miller will start his job in Perryville July 1. Dr. Ron Fitch will retire at the end of the school year.

"All the contact I've had is that Perryville is a progressive, growing community," Miller said. "I couldn't be luckier or happier."

Since Miller is moving into a new community, one of his first tasks is to get to know the people in Perryville.

"Really, the first thing you have to do is get to know as much about the feelings, wants and desires of the community So that you know what they want and can better serve them when you have to make decisions," he said.

Miller visited the school district Jan. 9, and met community leaders, administrators and teachers.

Board president Orville Schaefer said Miller was well qualified for the job.

"His strong points were his presentation to the community and good communication skills," Schaefer said.

Miller earned his doctorate degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. He began his career as a high school history teacher in Indiana.

He and his wife, Kathleen, have three children: Susan, Emily and Ian.

In other action at Wednesday night's meeting, board members approved a drug and alcohol testing policy. Federal law requires that all commercial drivers, which include schools drivers, be tested on a random basis.

Meyr Bus Lines, a Perryville company that has a five-year contract with the school for bus services, will periodically test its 50 employees.