The new job has required him to hire a large staff — everything from food prep to purchasing and transportation — split the assets (an arbitrator finally had to settle it) and do a lot of PR work. Doty has been campaigning like a politician, trying to convince teachers and parents that it will be school business as usual. He has launched a PR campaign that includes a Canyons School District Night at a pro soccer game, opening ceremonies, a sign-changing ceremony, a bus parade and a public meet-and-greet.

Are they opening a school district or starting their own country?

"There has been a lot of concern out there about the change," Doty says. "The answer is there will be very little change." Besides, parents and teachers have Doty right where they want him — three of his kids attend schools in the Canyons district.

"I would never ask for anything that I wouldn't want for my own children," he says.

Doty says the pressure and demands of the job have been exhausting and excruciating, but he knows there is more ahead in the form of three goals he has established for the district: Garner enough public support to increase funding for school upgrades (hello, higher property taxes); make every kid ready for college; and close the achievement gap between whites and minorities.

To accomplish the latter, he is borrowing an idea from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' inner-city mission program. He wants to take volunteers from schools in their own neighborhoods and have them devote some of their volunteer hours in schools that are poor and diverse.

"I want to put to rest the notion that people on the east side only care about themselves," he says.

Despite his time constraints, Doty insists on running every morning, mostly for his sanity. "The running is nonnegotiable," he says. "Sometimes I work through issues while I run. Mostly it lets me clear my head."

Doug Robinson's column runs on Tuesdays. Please send e-mail to drob@desnews.com