Batesville district looks within for school chief

When Batesville School District Superintendent Randy Willison decided to step down, he and the School Board came up with a replacement solution: Find someone within the district.

Gary Anderson, director of Batesville's White River Academy, an alternative school for students in grades seven through 12, will take over the district on Aug. 1.

Batesville School Board President Paul Hance said the board approached Anderson about taking the position when it learned Willison planned to retire as superintendent.

He said Anderson's more than two decades of experience as a superintendent made him the right man for the job.

"We can think of no one better for the children we serve," Hance said.

Willison announced his resignation Monday night at the School Board meeting.

Because Willison resigned so close to the start of the school year, the board chose his successor from within the school district.

"Due to the timing of Dr. Willison's resignation, the board knew a search process would be out of the question," Hance said.

He said most searches of this kind occur early in the calendar year.

"This time of year, there really is no pool to choose from," he said.

Anderson, 67, has been the leader of White River Academy for five years.

Before that, he spent 21 years as the superintendent of the Cushman School District, which was annexed by the Batesville district in 2009.

He worked for Cushman schools in different capacities for most of his career.

"I've been a teacher, coach, principal," he said. "I've done everything but cook."

He said he looks forward to taking on the role of superintendent again.

"That's my element," he said. "I'm a school finance guy. I enjoy the infrastructure part of it: transportation, maintenance."

Anderson said he's learned a lot about working with students and families going through difficult problems during his time at White River Academy.

He said it's given him a new perspective on education that he'll use in his role as superintendent.

District officials haven't yet decided who will become the director of White River Academy, Anderson said.

Anderson said his pay rate has not been finalized.

Willison, 56, whose annual salary as superintendent is $139,050, will leave the district July 31 and move to Texas, where he will work as a senior consultant for teacher talent development at the Fort Bend Independent School District.

He said his new job will allow him to focus on his love of education without many of the worries that come along with being a superintendent.

"My passion is for teaching and learning, not buses and budgets and snow days," he said. "I'm anxious to start the final phase of my career."

Despite the challenges he's faced, Willison said his four years at Batesville have been rewarding.

"I'll always consider my time here the highlight of my career," he said.

Metro on 07/23/2014

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