With 32 years of experience teaching and working in administration in the district, it was hard to turn down Dave Olson for the superintendent’s position in the Glenville-Emmons district.

&uot;I’m looking forward to the challenges we’ll face,&uot; he said.

He has his hands full.

The district just went through its most tumultuous year as a district since merging. Budget cuts forced large staff cuts; a building dispute pitted the towns of Emmons and Glenville against each other, after which 58 students enrolled in other schools; and a job offer at another district led to the resignation of Superintendent Todd Chessmore.

School board member Jeff Baumann said the district wasn’t even sure if they’d have the luxury of a candidate.

&uot;The biggest thing for us was, is anyone even going to apply for it?&uot; Baumann said.

After a search, five candidates sent in applications. Baumann said that of the five, some were inexperienced and others were setting up for retirement.

Olson’s familiarity with the district as well as his attitude were big draws for the board.

&uot;As a group, we felt he was the right person because he’s very optimistic,&uot; Baumann said.

For Olson, he faces the challenge of picking up the pieces and making sense of the district.

&uot;The biggest thing for me is that we focus on progress and make a vision for success,&uot; he said.

That vision involves a designing a strategic plan for the district.

&uot;My belief is that you are never standing still, you are either moving forward or moving backward,&uot; he said. &uot;I think a strategic plan will help us to move forward.&uot;

Olson said the strategic plan, which has been in the works for six months, focuses on expanding the curriculum, investing in technology, trying to maintain enrollment and looking at possibilities for renovating or new construction to solve facilities problems.

Olson said no set answers have come out of the planning committee yet, but when that happens, he wants more community involvement.

&uot;My biggest goal is to try to keep everyone &045; students, student officers, teachers, parents and community members

&045; involved in the process,&uot; he said.

(Contact Peter Cox at peter.cox @albertleatribune.com or 379-3438.)