The Clarke County Board of Education will introduce its sole finalist for superintendent at a public forum Monday night, the district announced late Friday.
Naming a sole finalist is a reversal for the school board, which had previously said it would name three finalists and allow the public to question them before making a final decision.
Here’s the news release from CCSD:
“The Board sincerely appreciates the involvement and feedback of our entire community in helping us reach this point,” said Board President Charles Worthy. “We look forward to introducing our sole finalist to the community on Monday, and are very confident in the bright future of Clarke County.”
The superintendent selection process began in January 2017, following former Superintendent Philip Lanoue’s announcement he would be launching PDL Consultants. Interim Superintendent Jack Parish began serving in January. After hiring the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, forums and surveys were conducted across Clarke County to involve the entire community in the selection process. The Board of Education reviewed over 70 applicants with the assistance of the search firm and conducted several rounds of interviews to narrow the field. The Board has been conducting background checks, reference checks and holding final interviews to select the finalist.
The forum will be held at 6 p.m. Apr. 3 at Whitehead Road Elementary School, the district announced Wednesday. Some have questioned why the district would host the forum at a school on the northwest fringe of the county that’s not accessible by bus, but CCSD spokeswoman Anisa Sullivan Jimenez told Flagpole the district wants to show off the new building, constructed in 2015.
Jimenez subsequently referred a question about when the superintendent finalists would be announced to Worthy.
When asked by email if finalists would be announced following a closed BOE meeting Friday afternoon, Worthy responded, “No!”
He did not reply to a follow-up question about when finalists would be announced.
The school board will meet again at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and presumably confirm the sole finalist’s hiring following that meeting.
UPDATE: Board members Greg Davis and John Knox said Saturday that, after they raised concerns to Worthy, he agreed to release the sole finalist’s name and CV Monday morning.
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
