High school principal slated to switch jobs
By TRAVIS PURSER
Express Staff Writer
For nearly 15 years, Wood River High School has had the same principal,
but this summer thats set to change.
On July 1, principal Bill Resko is slated for a promotion to director of
operations and athletics for the Blaine County School District, a newly created position
that will require him to oversee the districts athletics, transportation, buildings,
grounds and school lunch program.
Resko, 54, said he is honored the district offered him the position, and
also that he is looking forward to putting in a bit less time than he has as school
principal.
"I havent had a lunch hour in 15 years," he said.
Resko has worked at the high school since 1977, when he was hired as a
physical education teacher and athletic director.
In 1986, he became the schools assistant principal, and was promoted
to principal in 1988.
He said his biggest accomplishment during that time has been "to help
kids get through their mistakes, because theyre going to make mistakes."
He said he knows what its like to make mistakes, because hes
made them himself. One of his biggest, he said, was not studying hard enough when he
attended Northeastern University in Boston; he was drafted for Vietnam because his grades
werent high enough to prevent it.
That mistake "made me realize whats important," he said,
and he has tried to pass that knowledge on to his students.
In fact, its the daily informal contact with studentsin the
hallways, at sports eventsthat he thinks hell miss the most after his
promotion.
Resko said there are several qualified candidates within the school
district who could replace him, but theyll have to apply for the job like anybody
else. The district plans to begin a nationwide search for a new principal in the coming
year.
When asked what advice he has for his successor, he said, "Being a
principal is a hard job. It consumes a lot of time. You have to be willing to put in that
time. I think its important that kids see youre interested in them."