Kootenai's Hill to be honored

HARRISON - Ron Hill hopes 24 years as the superintendent of the Kootenai School District was a two-way street.

"People treated me well and hopefully I did them," he said.

A retirement party for Hill will be held from 2-5 p.m. today in the multi-purpose room of Harrison Elementary, 13030 E. O'Gara Road. Cake and refreshments will be served.

Hill retired at the end of January. Former Kootenai High Principal Rich Lund has been serving as the district's interim superintendent. The district plans to name Hill's replacement this summer.

Hill was Idaho's Superintendent of the Year for 1995-96 and served for six years each on boards for the Idaho High School Activities Association and Idaho Superintendent Association. He is a former president for both organizations and earned a Distinguished Service Award from the IHSAA.

He also served as Harrison Elementary's principal for 16 years along with being the district's superintendent at the same time before he was solely superintendent the past eight years.

Hill was an administrator, teacher and coach in the Kuna School District in southern Idaho for 17 years, but knew after a couple years in North Idaho he found a new home.

"I decided after a few years that bigger is not better and that I didn't need to move to a larger school district to be a good superintendent," Hill said. "I've enjoyed the community out here."

Kootenai became known for supporting nice, but practical facilities under Hill.

A new elementary and bus shop were built in 1993, a new high school in 2004 and an all-weather track and new parking lot in 2005.

"The school district used to have modulars for the elementary, so we were able to get rid of those," he said.

While serving on the superintendent's association, Hill helped rewrite the funding formula for schools.

"Hopefully I've been a positive influence for our district," Hill said.