Angela Brandt
Havre Daily News
abrandt@havredailynews.com
The new executive director for the District IV Human Resources Development Council has spend the last two days getting his feet wet.
Former Box Elder Public Schools and KG superintendent Paul Preeshl worked his first day on the job Monday.
He said he decided to apply for the job in order to “get more responsibilities and try to keep busy.”
The role of executive director was left vacant when Vic Miller resigned in late January to run for the Blaine County Commission, on which Miller served from 1996 to 2002.
Miller said HRDC's board members did well in choosing Preeshl.
“I think he'll do just fine. He has proven administrative experience, is well known in the area and folks like him,” Miller said.
Preeshl said he spent most of his first day reading HRDC manuals and getting familiar with the private, nonprofit council's many projects.
He said he is looking forward to his first staff meeting today.
Preeshl said his years of experience in school administration will help him in working with a large group of staff members and in “keeping the ship afloat.”
Preeshl said he wanted to tackle new projects and become more involved with local HRDC programs, which include housing, assistance for domestic violence victims, employment training, adult education, and Head Start.
He has worked as an educational consultant and test administrator for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, in which Preeshl traveled the state to measure the performance of Montana students against national averages.
Preeshl was interviewed by the local HRDC's executive board.
Executive board members deferred all questions to board president Lowell Long, who could not be reached for comment.
Before Preeshl's hiring, the job was offered to another applicant from Idaho, who opted for another out-of-state job, interim HRDC executive director Diane Savasten Getten said.
