Windsor C-1 assistant superintendent Jeff Buscher will retire at the end of this school year, and Superintendent Joel Holland said he also would like to retire but will wait one more year if a replacement can’t be found in time.
Holland informed the Windsor Board of Education about his and Buscher’s retirement plans at its Nov. 17 meeting.
“If the board hires a superintendent, I’ll go ahead and retire this year,” Holland said.
“If they don’t find anyone they feel is suitable, I will stay in the job.”
Tim McCraw, the board president, said the district will immediately start looking for a new superintendent to hire, but not an assistant superintendent.
“We’re going to be doing a superintendent search,” he said. “We’re looking for one person.”
Buscher said that the board wants to first hire a superintendent who can then take part in the process to hire a new assistant superintendent.
Holland said Windsor administrators and the school board members will conduct the search.
“We’ll post it through the Missouri School Boards Association. We’re going to get it posted next week, and the applications will be due by Jan. 7,” he said Nov. 18.
“We’ll do screenings during the month. The January board meeting is Jan. 26. The board will probably do interviews that night, if they can.”
Holland said the board hasn’t yet decided on a salary for the new superintendent.
His annual salary is $211,100, and Buscher’s is $154,770.
“If it’s a range, it will probably be $150,000 to $180,00 (based on experience, among other factors),” Holland said.
He said the board will determine the qualifications for his replacement.
“I think the main thing they’re looking for is a good, quality person who has the credentials,” he said. “I’m confident they’re going to find some excellent candidates.”
Holland, 54, of Festus and Buscher, 53, of Barnhart, both joined Windsor the same year, in the same jobs they still hold.
“We both were hired at Windsor in 2009,” Holland said.
Holland said he has enjoyed his time as the district’s superintendent.
“It’s all been positive, every parent, every staff member, it’s all been positive,” he said. “Everybody wants to do whatever’s best for the kids.”
Holland has worked in education for 32 years.
Buscher, an educator for 29 years, also speaks highly of Windsor.
“I’m very thankful for my years at Windsor,” he said. “It’s a great community.”