After spending his last 53 Septembers in school, Robert Ray has something different in mind for fall 2014. The Suring School superintendent will retire, effective June 30, and plans to be on the road come September.
His retirement plans include traveling in the family’s recreational vehicle with his wife, Janet, a retired school teacher.
“I’m looking forward to going somewhere in September, which I’ve never been able to do since I’ve been in school,” Ray said.
Ray, 59, will complete his ninth year in Suring, six years as superintendent and three years as principal, in June. Previously, he worked 15 years in the Sevastopol School District as band director and dean of students. Counting his teaching assignments in Illinois and Indiana, Ray has had a 37-year career in education.
The school district will advertise for a full-time replacement.
Ray said the new administrator will face tough financial decisions, with state funding decreasing and less money available for education.
“We’re going to have to do a referendum or look at program cuts, so that’s probably our biggest challenge coming up in the next couple of years,” Ray said.
In 2012, the district approved a three-year, $900,000 referendum to replace the school roof.
Keeping the district in solid financial shape was one of Ray’s goals during his tenure, he said.
“I would like to thank the Suring School District for giving me this great opportunity,” Ray said. “We plan on remaining Suring residents in retirement.”
He said Suring is unique in having its School Board intact for more than 10 years. The same members who hired him almost a decade ago approved his retirement request.
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