Individual attention key for USD 398 superintendent

Written by Don Ratzlaff Wednesday, 11 July 2007 05:02

rexwatsonp70623592.jpg We need to educate the whole child, and we need to take into consideration their individuality when we do that.”
—Rex Watson, USD 398 superintendent

Click image to enlarge.
At least one thread connects Rex Watson’s vocational commitment as the new superintendent of the Peabody-Burn school district with his otherwise unique avocation of building hot rods.

Watson, whose customizing talents have been featured in hot-rod publications, is convinced that whether it’s kids or cars, individual attention can turn a clunker into a classic.

“I’m a proponent of individualizing,” said Watson, who began his first superintendency July 1.

“The model we currently use in K-12 education...

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HHS band booster meeting rescheduled; camp set for July 23-25

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Wednesday, 11 July 2007 04:40

The Hillsboro High School Band Booster meeting has been rescheduled from July 23, to 7:30 p.m., Aug. 6, according to Gregg Walker, director of bands.

Walker is inviting all band students from grades eight through 12 to participate in the annual band camp from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., July 23-25. The camp will culminate with the march-through at the Marion County Fair parade, July 25.

Band members will be wearing new shirts in the parade. Parents are asked to call Walker at 877-7027 and leave a message giving the adult size for their child. The shirt will cost $12.

Members of the HHS band this fall will need to be fitted for concert attire at 1:30 p.m. July 23 July 24. New HHS band members, and any returning members who think they have...

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From competitor to collaborator

Written by Don Ratzlaff Thursday, 05 July 2007 05:57

GordonMohnP6292287.JPG “With kids, we have plenty of emphasis on competition. We don’t need our leaders being great competitors. We need our leaders being collaborators, people who understand the underprivileged, the ‘losers.’”—Gordon Mohn at the conclusion of his 15-year stint as USD 410 superintendent. Click image to enlarge.

The headline for a retrospective story on Gordon Mohn’s 15-year tenure as Unified School District 410 superintendent could read: “Local boy does good.”

Then again, Mohn probably would be the first to suggest a clarifying subhead: “No one is more surprised than those who knew him as a youth.”

“People who would know me from high school would say I was kind of a bully,” the Hillsboro High School...

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Date of college loans determines impact of July 1 interest increase

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 26 June 2007 16:58

If you’re borrowing money to pay for college—whether as a student ora parent of a student—you are likely being swamped with direct-mail andtelemarketing enticements to consolidate before interest rates increaseon July 1.

Should you be paying attention to those enticements?

Only if you have loans that were taken out prior to July 1, 2006, say those who have worked with financial aid at Tabor College.

OnSunday, July 1, interest rates will increase to 7.22 percent forsubsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans for students and to 8.02percent for PLUS loans.

In all three cases, that’s an increase ofonly 0.08 percent from the current fixed interest rate for loans thatwere made after July 1, 2006.

“For any loans taken after July...

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