Tyrone renews Miller’s contract

TYRONE - The Tyrone Area school board unanimously agreed Tuesday to renew its contract with longtime Superintendent William Miller.

The three-year contract will keep Miller as head administrator through June 30, 2013. The 38-year veteran administrator told the board that he had planned on retiring when his current contract expired in June, but he changed his mind.

"The idea of turning in the keys and walking away just concerned me more as we got closer to deadline," Miller said.

The new contract is essentially an extension of his previous three-year contract. In the first year of the contract extension, Miller will receive the same salary as he gets this fiscal year, $126,661.

"You could do a lot worse," board President Lee Stover said after the meeting. "He has so much experience I wouldn't turn down spending another three years working with him."

The district's top writing score on the Pennsylvania State School Assessment is an example of one of Miller's successes in leading a staff that is dedicated to the success of the students, Vice President Jim Crawford said.

Crawford said that along with the academic success and the support of the staff, Miller has helped put the district on solid financial footing.

Before the meeting, Miller said he has "a strong attachment and affinity for the Tyrone Area School District" and his "home away from home."

"I was very reluctant [to retire], so I decided I would consider a renewal," said the 67-year-old Miller.

This is the second time Miller had indicated he would retire before deciding to remain as superintendent. Three years ago, he accepted a three-year extension in the final year of his contract stating similar sentiments about leaving the district.

When asked what is different now in education since he took over the job, Miller said the changes are too massive to narrow it down to any one thing. Schools have gone from using mimeographs and doing everything on paper to using computers having instant communication, he said.

There have been changes related to special education. There were two special education teachers when he started in 1971. Now the district has 32, he said.

Miller said he's seen the organization of the teacher's union in the district.

Basic education funding has also become an issue over the years because of what he called the "politics of funding."

"It's a great challenge," Miller said.