MONROE - Ron Olson never intended to work in schools after he earned his college degree, but once a job with his high school alma mater fell into his lap, it was the perfect fit.
At Argyle High School, Olson began the career he has spent his life growing. Now as the business administrator for Monroe school district, he not only works to help Monroe stay in the black, but also loves serving children, building relationships and trust in the area so close to home.
He grew up for a while near South Wayne and attended the Black Hawk School District until third grade. By age 9, his family moved to Argyle, and he said the small town was a place he felt comfortable riding bikes, playing whiffle ball and participating in little league games. When the street lights came on, he knew it was time to head home.
"We definitely had the run of the town," he said.
His two brothers were much older - and Olson often found himself on his own, or with a group of local friends, playing sports and enjoying the outdoors.
By the time he reached middle school, he mowed lawns to earn money.
In high school, Olson was a good student who played football, basketball and a little baseball. He earned himself the valedictorian spot along with being both student council and class president. He graduated in 1989.
"My parents instilled a lot in me," he said. "Growing up, they had certain expectations and gave me responsibilities."
Olson worked at Colony Brands on the baking line through high school and his college summers. He said he came across interesting people and the work taught him a lot about commitment.
After graduation, Olson followed in his brother's footsteps and attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he planned to major in accounting. He liked that he was familiar with the school and the program.
"I'm a numbers person," Olson said. "I just kind of always knew business and accounting were appealing to me."
He said he momentarily considered teaching history or social studies - they were also topics he enjoyed - but the job market made opportunities questionable at the time.
After graduation, he applied all over, he said. Chicago, Madison and the Twin Cities were options he was open to. He saw an advertisement for a business administrator position at Argyle High School but didn't feel qualified enough to apply. As time went on, the position still wasn't filled, and Olson still hadn't gotten a job offer, so he decided to throw his hat in the ring.
He was called off the line at Colony Brands when he got word he was selected to interview. He said the interviewees were familiar faces, which was a good thing.
"I think there was a lot of trust in me and my abilities and what I could bring to them," Olson said.
The nice thing about his first job in Argyle, Olson said, was that he did a little of everything at the small district and learned as he went. It was also scary, in part, to not have anyone to learn from.
"I did every payroll," he said. "I signed every check. I knew where every penny was."
He spent eight years at his alma mater and worked through four superintendents. He's proud that during his time there the district was able to pass a referendum to build a new school. He coached and served on organizations and other boards.
"I think we did a lot of good things and positive things," he said. "Having the ownership of it being my hometown and hometown school made it pretty special."
As Olson looked at what was next for him, he said there was a school in northern Wisconsin where a superintendent he once worked with was asking him to come. He said though it was a hard decision to leave, he felt he advanced Argyle as far as he could at that time and was ready for a change.
He took a position at Northland Pines School District on the north side of Wisconsin. The school had reached out to him several times after going through eight business administrators in five years.
He said he was getting a chance to golf in Argyle, but thought if he was closer to a lake, he would make a point to fish more often.
"I love the north - the lakes, water, fishing," he said.
Much of his position started with building trust and bringing together a district where teachers and unions were picketing and marching regularly. The distrust between the administration and staff was thick.
"I built trust quickly with staff and proved I was going to stay and see some things through for them," Olson said.
He did do a little fishing, and even lived on a lake for a while.
"On a bad day you could walk out onto the pier and stare out at the water for a few minutes," he said. "Then it would all be OK."
By the time he left, the school built great relationships, passed referendums and addressed several issues at their high school. Although Olson loves the north in the summertime, the winters became long, and five hours from home felt too far. His brother had developed a disability and his parents were aging. He decided to return after five years.
Though he wasn't in a rush to leave, he said a job opportunity in Monroe came sooner than expected, and he wanted to take it while it was available. Although he hoped for a district around Monroe's size, he wasn't sure the timing was right. The school was in a financial crisis, making the job unattractive. He decided to apply - knowing he'd powered through a similar situation before - and made a good fit.
Now in his 12th year as Monroe's business administrator, Olson said he's glad he made the move, despite those early years.
"It was a challenge," he said. "I like tackling challenges."
Once again, he worked to rebuild trust in the community and clearly explain to Monroe residents what happened, as well as their plan for the future. He explained his long history of being fiscally responsible, and came out with the first operating referendum that same year.
He's been a part of making cuts and managing the budget for Monroe schools, now coming in under budget on expenses. Olson is sure from now on, if there is a deficit, it will be planned and known in advance.
"It feels good to be on the other side of that," Olson said. "People are feeling good about the district financials again."
He never planned to work in school districts, but he said seeing the bigger picture and viewing things from all sides are strengths he didn't know he had.
Many of his jobs have been about building relationships - but it wasn't his plan to get so personal.
"People view me as outgoing but there's certainly a part of me that, at the end of the day, on a weekend, I like to be alone," he said. "No phone ringing. Just, quiet."
Olson has taken time to be involved with the community. He served on the Big Brothers board for six years and just started on the Green County Family YMCA board. While he was in Eagle River, he was in the Lions Club.
While he's no longer on a lake, Olson said he still enjoys fishing whenever he can, even if his boat doesn't get into the water as much as he would like. He has been to Canada with his father and brother on a fishing trip and enjoys camping through the summertime with a circle of friends, traveling to see sunshine and warmth and reading when he finds the time. He loves to watch sports, mainly college football, horse races and golf.
Olson noted that it can be hard not to bury himself in his work, but said the separation is a goal for his future. He's looking to find a better balance of work and self.
When looking to the future of the school district, he said there will always be ongoing financial issues, buildings to maintain and upgrades to make.
"In our world, everyone seems to be caught up in technology, news or craziness and the polarization," Olson said. "We're still a neat little community and a nice state where people appreciate their neighbors and take the time to be good to each other. It's good to remember. I think we're all struggling with that a bit."
At Argyle High School, Olson began the career he has spent his life growing. Now as the business administrator for Monroe school district, he not only works to help Monroe stay in the black, but also loves serving children, building relationships and trust in the area so close to home.
He grew up for a while near South Wayne and attended the Black Hawk School District until third grade. By age 9, his family moved to Argyle, and he said the small town was a place he felt comfortable riding bikes, playing whiffle ball and participating in little league games. When the street lights came on, he knew it was time to head home.
"We definitely had the run of the town," he said.
His two brothers were much older - and Olson often found himself on his own, or with a group of local friends, playing sports and enjoying the outdoors.
By the time he reached middle school, he mowed lawns to earn money.
In high school, Olson was a good student who played football, basketball and a little baseball. He earned himself the valedictorian spot along with being both student council and class president. He graduated in 1989.
"My parents instilled a lot in me," he said. "Growing up, they had certain expectations and gave me responsibilities."
Olson worked at Colony Brands on the baking line through high school and his college summers. He said he came across interesting people and the work taught him a lot about commitment.
After graduation, Olson followed in his brother's footsteps and attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he planned to major in accounting. He liked that he was familiar with the school and the program.
"I'm a numbers person," Olson said. "I just kind of always knew business and accounting were appealing to me."
He said he momentarily considered teaching history or social studies - they were also topics he enjoyed - but the job market made opportunities questionable at the time.
After graduation, he applied all over, he said. Chicago, Madison and the Twin Cities were options he was open to. He saw an advertisement for a business administrator position at Argyle High School but didn't feel qualified enough to apply. As time went on, the position still wasn't filled, and Olson still hadn't gotten a job offer, so he decided to throw his hat in the ring.
He was called off the line at Colony Brands when he got word he was selected to interview. He said the interviewees were familiar faces, which was a good thing.
"I think there was a lot of trust in me and my abilities and what I could bring to them," Olson said.
The nice thing about his first job in Argyle, Olson said, was that he did a little of everything at the small district and learned as he went. It was also scary, in part, to not have anyone to learn from.
"I did every payroll," he said. "I signed every check. I knew where every penny was."
He spent eight years at his alma mater and worked through four superintendents. He's proud that during his time there the district was able to pass a referendum to build a new school. He coached and served on organizations and other boards.
"I think we did a lot of good things and positive things," he said. "Having the ownership of it being my hometown and hometown school made it pretty special."
As Olson looked at what was next for him, he said there was a school in northern Wisconsin where a superintendent he once worked with was asking him to come. He said though it was a hard decision to leave, he felt he advanced Argyle as far as he could at that time and was ready for a change.
He took a position at Northland Pines School District on the north side of Wisconsin. The school had reached out to him several times after going through eight business administrators in five years.
He said he was getting a chance to golf in Argyle, but thought if he was closer to a lake, he would make a point to fish more often.
"I love the north - the lakes, water, fishing," he said.
Much of his position started with building trust and bringing together a district where teachers and unions were picketing and marching regularly. The distrust between the administration and staff was thick.
"I built trust quickly with staff and proved I was going to stay and see some things through for them," Olson said.
He did do a little fishing, and even lived on a lake for a while.
"On a bad day you could walk out onto the pier and stare out at the water for a few minutes," he said. "Then it would all be OK."
By the time he left, the school built great relationships, passed referendums and addressed several issues at their high school. Although Olson loves the north in the summertime, the winters became long, and five hours from home felt too far. His brother had developed a disability and his parents were aging. He decided to return after five years.
Though he wasn't in a rush to leave, he said a job opportunity in Monroe came sooner than expected, and he wanted to take it while it was available. Although he hoped for a district around Monroe's size, he wasn't sure the timing was right. The school was in a financial crisis, making the job unattractive. He decided to apply - knowing he'd powered through a similar situation before - and made a good fit.
Now in his 12th year as Monroe's business administrator, Olson said he's glad he made the move, despite those early years.
"It was a challenge," he said. "I like tackling challenges."
Once again, he worked to rebuild trust in the community and clearly explain to Monroe residents what happened, as well as their plan for the future. He explained his long history of being fiscally responsible, and came out with the first operating referendum that same year.
He's been a part of making cuts and managing the budget for Monroe schools, now coming in under budget on expenses. Olson is sure from now on, if there is a deficit, it will be planned and known in advance.
"It feels good to be on the other side of that," Olson said. "People are feeling good about the district financials again."
He never planned to work in school districts, but he said seeing the bigger picture and viewing things from all sides are strengths he didn't know he had.
Many of his jobs have been about building relationships - but it wasn't his plan to get so personal.
"People view me as outgoing but there's certainly a part of me that, at the end of the day, on a weekend, I like to be alone," he said. "No phone ringing. Just, quiet."
Olson has taken time to be involved with the community. He served on the Big Brothers board for six years and just started on the Green County Family YMCA board. While he was in Eagle River, he was in the Lions Club.
While he's no longer on a lake, Olson said he still enjoys fishing whenever he can, even if his boat doesn't get into the water as much as he would like. He has been to Canada with his father and brother on a fishing trip and enjoys camping through the summertime with a circle of friends, traveling to see sunshine and warmth and reading when he finds the time. He loves to watch sports, mainly college football, horse races and golf.
Olson noted that it can be hard not to bury himself in his work, but said the separation is a goal for his future. He's looking to find a better balance of work and self.
When looking to the future of the school district, he said there will always be ongoing financial issues, buildings to maintain and upgrades to make.
"In our world, everyone seems to be caught up in technology, news or craziness and the polarization," Olson said. "We're still a neat little community and a nice state where people appreciate their neighbors and take the time to be good to each other. It's good to remember. I think we're all struggling with that a bit."