Dr. Rob Watson’s contract as the new Superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools was approved on Tuesday.

MCPS Communications Director Hatton Littman said Watson signed and the board approved a three year contract. He will receive a salary of $180,000 per year.

“Tuesday night at the regularly scheduled board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the three year contract for Rob Watson as our new superintendent,” said Littman. “July 1st is the first day of his contract and we were excited to have him present at the board meeting, and we hope that we might get a few more opportunities where he’s available to drive over (from Bozeman) before July 1st, but that’s still in the works.”

Littman said the Board of Trustees chose Watson to be superintendent for several reasons.

“The board spoke when they hired him that he had had an excellent track record of leadership in the Bozeman public schools,” she said. “Some of the board and staff members spoke of his former leadership in Missoula as a principal at several of our schools, and many spoke of his values that education would be an important tool for all students, making sure that we’re reaching all students.”

Littman said she would hope that Watson would continue the tradition begun by present Superintendent Mark Thane of appearing on the KGVO Talk Back show on a monthly basis.

“We have enjoyed that connection to the community through your listening audience, and I’m sure that our new superintendent will want to fulfill that role,” she said. That’s certainly something that we’ll be discussing with him.”

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