Fox to leave after three years

QUINCY — Quincy School District Superintendent Roger Fox officially announced his retirement yesterday, effective at the end of the school year. He is 53.

Fox knows he is retiring young, but he said the retirement plan he signed up for in 1977 allowed him to retire after 30 years. He worked for 31 years, nearly three spent in the Quincy School District.

Even though he didn't want to retire, staying at the position did not make financial sense for his family, he said.

"Fifty-three is too young to retire … I'm too hyper," he said. "I don't want to quit working."

Fox is exploring other possibilities, including working in Idaho, which runs on a different retirement system, working a part-time position or working at a university near his home in Spokane.

The best part of working for the Quincy School District is the hard work administrators put forth in making positive changes to the school, Fox said.

"I'm really proud of all of my employees," he said.

The worst part about working for the district is not knowing its history when he arrived, Fox said. A levy failed when he ran it the first time, and he said he learned it was related to something that happened in 1987. There were more problems with a bond in 1997.

"I think the worst part is that coming from another school district, I don't have the history of certain events that have transpired," he said.

He said he feels some anxiety about the person taking his place, which the school board is going to select.

"I'm hoping that they hire somebody that's really top notch and I'm sure that they will," he said.

Fox said he enjoyed his three years in Quincy. He said he feels he improved as a superintendent each year.

"I need to work hard until my last day and I'm going to keep my administrators working hard until the last day," he said.