New Warsaw schools superintendent excited about duties

The new superintendent of Warsaw R-IX School District comes to his new post with years of experience and expertise in school finance.

James Haley, superintendent of Oak Grove R-VI School District, will start his new job in Warsaw on July 1.
“I’m excited about this district. After being someplace 11 years, I was very comfortable here, but I was ready for a new challenge, a new change,” he said.

Haley has 15 years of experience as a superintendent, 11 in Oak Grove. He also was superintendent in the Greenfield and Chadwick school districts.

“Working with school boards, community, school finance, I think I have a lot of those experiences coming in. I think I am coming in a little ahead of the curve,” he said.

He also was a principal in Smithton and in King City, and taught fifth grade for two years.

One of his areas of expertise is school finance. He has taught finance courses at University of Central Missouri’s education administration program.

“I feel very comfortable dealing with finance. I’ve put together 15 budgets, and all 15 have resulted in positive balances at the end of the school year,” he said.

Haley said he tries to give students what they need, but makes sure the district is in the black.

“One reason I’ve had a lot of success is, I don’t think there’s any magic. I’ve always tried to take a conservative approach to the school budget,” he said.

He said he’s looking forward to taking the helm of the district, which he sees as academically successful.

“It’s not to change everything, turn over everything, it’s to take their successes to build on that,” he said. “It’s not about change, it’s about taking and moving forward and improving.”

Haley said he hopes to make the school a positive place for staff members, parents and children.

“I think it needs to be a place where parents feel welcome and are proud their children attend the school,” he said.

He said he thinks a district needs to have salary and benefits packages that can attract staff, and then “create the kind of relationship and atmosphere in a district that makes them want to stay ... so that’s what I’ll be after.”

Haley received his doctorate from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He holds a specialist certificate from Central Missouri State University, a master’s degree from Southwest Missouri State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Drury College.

He will make $119,000 per year under his two-year contract with Warsaw.

Board Vice President Heath Karr said the board chose Haley unanimously. The district interviewed six candidates.

“We liked a lot of things about him. He seems very genuine, has a lot of experience ... We enjoyed him, (he) just seemed like a real good fit for our district,” Karr said.

The board worked with Missouri School Boards Association to replace outgoing Superintendent Brett Reese, who resigned in April.