CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Max Buffi, Pahrump Valley High School's new principal, sits behind the desk at his new "home school." Buffi will also remain principal of Pathways, the school's alternative education program. Advertisement

Max Buffi had only been Pahrump Valley High School's new principal for two weeks as of Friday, May 2, but already students were waving at him through the window and cheerfully telling him they'd see him at the game.

It was clear that Buffi, who is also principal of Pathways, the alternative education program based on independent study, dove into his new position head first.

"A lot of people would see it as overwhelming," Buffi said. "But I love the excitement, I love the pressure."

Buffi said he doesn't plan on making too many changes at the school in the immediate future, but first wants to look at different departments and get some ideas for their improvement.

"We have a great faculty, we have a great staff," Buffi said. "The foundation is there, all we have to do now is build on that foundation."

The educator ticked off a number of areas at the high school at which he's planning to take a closer look.

"We need to look at teacher morale, student morale, academics, school safety is always a top priority," Buffi said. "Everything we look at is going to see how we can improve it."

That doesn't mean, however, the new principal doesn't have some very clear and specific goals for the school.

"I'm looking forward to trying to make Pahrump Valley High School a school from which the whole community can be proud of for its achievements," Buffi said.

More specifically, Buffi plans to work on lowering the drop-out rate and raising proficiency test scores.

"If we can help our students in any way to keep them in high school and get a diploma, we're doing them a favor," the principal said.

Another way Buffi plans to achieve this goal is to help students with behavioral problems and character development.

As far as Buffi is concerned, there's no reason Pahrump Valley High School can't be "one of the top schools in Nevada, if not the nation."

"I'm a dreamer," he admitted. "But you have to set high goals."

The principal acknowledged that the high school has clear challenges that need to be overcome, such as overcrowding and the drop-out rate.

But he's confident they can be overcome in time.

One improvement Buffi said he would like to see is a vocational center built at the high school to give students a foundation for future careers in the trades (although that is decision that is ultimately up to the Nye County School Board).

But overall, the principal is confident he can meet the challenges and make improvements that benefit the entire school and, consequently, the community.

Meeting challenges and helping students receive their education is nothing new to Buffi, who for the past six years has been principal of Pathways Middle School and High School. The school's alternative education program based largely on independent study.

He will remain principal of Pathways until the end of the 2008-09 academic year.

Buffi is looking forward most to working with the students at his new post.

"I believe the fountain of youth is spending time with young people," Buffi said. "We've got good kids in Pahrump. I've run into some yahoos and knot heads, but they're all good kids. They all have worth."