The new boss of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district sees his embattled predecessor as a mentor, his administration's work as a team effort, and a tax rollback election as unavoidable.

"It's inevitable some time," Bobby Burns, who on Wednesday removed the "acting" label from his title as superintendent, said of a rollback vote. "Whether it's 2009 or 2010 is really the question."

The district faces a $10 million deficit and must contend with $3 million in state-mandated teacher raises, whose federal funding is uncertain. And while other industries cope with the recession by cutting salaries and staff, neither is an option for the district, at least not this year.

"We've got to decide what's best and how to educate kids," said Burns, who has been with the district for more than two decades. "That should drive the funding, not the opposite."

All but one board member – new trustee Karin Webb, who did not attend Wednesday night's board meeting – supported naming Burns as the lone finalist for the superintendent job last month.

"We did have excellent candidates," board President Lynn Chaffin said. "I believe we got the best candidate for our district."

The district faced different challenges last school year, when Burns' predecessor, Annette Griffin, was charged with driving while intoxicated. For months, news about the district focused on her arrest and the $100,000 severance package she received from the school board.

The new superintendent, who has been praised by trustees for keeping the academically recognized district on track and maintaining staff morale amid the tumult, promises the district won't revolve around him.

"This district operates as a team," said Burns, who will earn a base salary of $225,000 under his new contract. "And that's a big part of its success."

Burns, 51, said that philosophy is Griffin's legacy, and he praised her leadership in "making student achievement the No. 1 goal."

"As educators, we all learn from our mentors," he said. "It's about the schools and what we're doing in the school system. It's not always about us personally."

Last month, some voters in the district took the Griffin episode personally, ousting two sitting trustees, including longtime board President John Tepper. Critics of Griffin's administration had hoped the board would install a new face as superintendent, as well.

But Burns said change for the sake of change isn't always the solution.

"Sometimes the answer to every problem is just change it," he said. "But I think this board and the community felt that the school system is what they should focus on and the success of the school system."

What will change, however, is Burns' address. He has lived in the Richardson school district but will move, as required by his new three-year contract. Critics wonder why he hasn't moved into the district before now.

"I guarantee you if I really loved the district, I would have been in this district a long time ago," said Richard Fleming, who narrowly defeated Tepper in the May 9 election but has since been deemed ineligible to serve because he lives outside the district.

"That is irony," added Fleming, saying he should be given the same opportunity to move.

Burns said he started his family in Richardson ISD and stayed put so as not to disrupt his sons' education. He suspects some residents misunderstand the different standards for an administrator and a trustee, who must live in the district under state law.

"You're an employee," he said. "You're not an elected official."

Burns doesn't expect his relationship with trustees to change.

"Having been in the district and worked with many of them for many years," he said, "we already have a good working relationship. So I think that's a real strength and a benefit."

The staff and school board will have to work together to get residents to support a tax increase as they cope with trying times.

Last week, Burns' staff presented the board with three preliminary budget options, two of which would require a rollback election. In order to pass a balanced budget, trustees were told, the tax rate would have to rise 9 cents to $1.13 per $100 of valuation.

Burns said the district must show voters a return on their investment.

"That's the only way we're going to get out of this economy mess, is for us to have a good, educated workforce," he said.

Age: 51

Family: Married, two sons

Education: Doctorate in education administration from the University of North Texas; bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas State University, now Texas A&M- Commerce

Career: Joined the administration as assistant superintendent of personnel in 1997; principal at DeWitt Perry Middle School; assistant principal at R.L. Turner High School and Blalack Middle School; joined the district as English teacher and athletics coach at Newman Smith High School in 1988, after teaching for 12 years in Garland and Richardson