By KATIE STOCKSTILL

Morning Sun Staff Writer

Marvin "Buddy" Bualle just can't seem to retire.

After 37 years as a teacher and administrator, one false retirement reception, one year as an interim counselor and one year of retirement, Bualle is back in action as the interim principal for Lakeside Elementary School for the 2006-2007 school year, and Bualle insists, this year is the final one.

"I thinks this is my last go," Bualle said. "I'm looking forward to it. I still enjoy being around kids and teachers. Hopefully I can contribute a little bit."

After a late decision to move Cory Gibson, the former Lakeside Elementary principal, to the Pittsburg Community Middle School, USD 250 Superintendent, Gary Price, called on Bualle to fill the vacancy.

"He has a great reputation as an educator," Price said. "We thought he would be a good fit at Lakeside and he was available and we are pleased to have him for year."

"Gary called me and wanted to know if I would be interested in being interim principal here," Bualle said. "They really felt like they didn't really have an opportunity to really get a good search for this position, so he wanted to know if I would take it to allow them more time for a more thorough search. And I said sure, that sounds like fun."

So, after only one year of retirement, Bualle made the decision to return to education, again, and he says he could not be happier.

"Teaching is something that I've always wanted to do," Bualle said. "It's not something that I made a conscious choice about. It was part of my life since I was a little kid, it's almost like it chose me."

As an interim, Bualle knows his temporary position will pose some challenges.

"I see my biggest challenge is to keep this building moving in the direction it is going," Bualle said. "My job is not to change things, my job is to maintain the statue quo for one year. I don't want to make any decisions that are long term decisions, that impact this district, if inconsistent with the philosophy of this district."

Bualle knows that his long and diverse work history will provide the experience and knowledge to finish the final phase of his lengthy and memorable career. But experience can only go so far, and Bualle is the first to admit that he does not know everything.

"I'm apprehensive because I have to learn everything new," Bualle said. "Learning how the system operates, every place does a little bit different ... It's causing me to push the envelope a little."

Although Bualle does not have big retirement dreams, he does admit that he enjoyed his year off during the 2004-2005 school year and will enjoy the rest of his retirement when, or if, the time does come.

"There are no big plans," Bualle said. "We are very home, family oriented. We think a good time is doing something with our family. We are very low key people. We're very content with our life the way it is."

But for now, Bualle has a job to complete and could not be more excited about it.

"I feel good. I'm having a good time. As long it's fun, it's not work. "

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) July 11, 2006

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