TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) The head of the Twin Falls School District will be retiring next year. In an announcement made Wednesday during the school board meeting, Dr. Wiley Dobbs told the trustees he will retire September 2017 after working for 14 years in the district.

In a letter to the board, Dobbs said, “I thank you for the opportunity to serve as superintendent in the best school district in the State of Idaho for going on 14 years.  It is a pleasure to work with such an outstanding school board and a world-class District Office Administrative Team .” The full year before Dr. Dobbs retires will allow the board time to find a replacement according to the district in a news release. Dr. Dobbs will work with the new replacement or a time before his retirement. Here is a letter from Dr. Dobbs:

 

September 28, 2016

 

 

Dear Chairman Jansen and Members of the Twin Falls School District #411 Board of Trustees:

 

First, I thank you for the opportunity to serve as superintendent in the best school district in the State of Idaho for going on 14 years.  It is a pleasure to work with such an outstanding school board and a world-class District Office Administrative Team (DOAT).  Over the past decade, the TFSD #411 has risen to a level of great respect in the State of Idaho.  We have garnered tremendous support from our community as well.

 

Some of the TFSD #411 highlights include:

 

  • The TFSD #411 has been able to pass six levies totaling over $180,000,000. In fact, we are undefeated and have passed every levy we have attempted during my tenure. This demonstrates great confidence by our patrons and a strong willingness to invest in the children of our community. With this money we have been able to build 4 new schools and provide maintenance and upgrades for all of the schools in the district. We utilized some of the funding to weather the economic storm caused by the Great Recession, and did so without eliminating programs or firing personnel. In fact, our efforts during that very challenging time were recognized in the Education Northwest Magazine.
  • We have procured many grants due to the respect we have forged with the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE). The refugee program and TFSD #411 Newcomers Centers have benefitted from these grants and are held up as a model by the SDE.
  • The working relationship with our teachers and classified employees is a positive and respectful one. Our negotiations sessions each year, while challenging, have been successful.
  • Once again, the large majority of respondents’ ratings and comments on my 2016 staff survey indicate approval of my work in all of the domains. In fact, 85% of all the responses were either “outstanding” or “excellent.” The comments that appear on the survey indicate that the vast majority of a wide array of stakeholders are pleased with the TFSD #411 District Office Admin Team’s leadership and they are proud of our school district.
  • Our student achievement highlights are among the finest in the State of Idaho. We have a strongly engrained philosophy of continuous quality improvement and a “no excuse” approach in the TFSD #411.
  • Our school district and individuals within our district have received many accolades and prestigious awards. We receive many inquiries each year for visitations and information requests from districts wanting to emulate our successes.

 

With this letter I am notifying you of my decision and request to retire on September 1, 2017. I have the greatest respect for you and the work you do, and I want to give you ample time to find the next superintendent. I am convinced that this current TFSD #411 Board of Trustees is the best in the State of

 

 

 

Idaho. So, it is with mixed emotions that I write this letter. As I look back over my 45 years with the TFSD #411 (12 as a student and 33 as an employee), I am proud of what we all have accomplished together.  I consider myself fortunate to have found this wonderful profession.  I have loved every minute of it. I have had the honor of working with and learning from many fine people in my years as a student, a teacher, a coach, a principal, a director, and as your superintendent.  The names roll by in my mind: Ruth Wing, Dorothy Guest, Glenn Sheen, Doug Rex, Al Busby, Frank Charlton, Duke Wiseman, Carl Snow, Bill Jones,

Judy Watson, Terry Donicht, Mary Ann Ranells, Dale Thornsberry, Keith Farnsworth, Michelle Lucas and Patti O’Dell.  Make no mistake, I will miss working with the great people in this organization. However, it is my desire to retire to pursue other interests in my life. I have great confidence and pride that the TFSD #411 is and will remain strong and ready to help our community’s students well into the future.

 

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Wiley J. Dobbs,

Superintendent of Schools

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