The hunt for yet another new permanent Clinton County Schools Superintendent is now officially underway, as the Superintendent Search Committee held its first joint meeting with the school board and a separate meeting amongst themselves last Tuesday, November 28.
The superintendent vacancy became open earlier this year when Dr. Paula Little, who had only served about a year at the helm, announced her retirement after having been in education for some 35 years.
Little had been chosen as schools chief following the resignation of Tim Parson, who held the position for less than two years after taking over for Charlotte Nasief just a few years ago.
The next superintendent chosen will be the fourth to serve the district in the past five years.
By state statute, the local search committee was formed around the middle of the year, following the announcement of Little’s retirement and pending vacancy it would cause.
KRS 160.352 requires that “a screening committee be appointed within 30 days of determination that a vacancy has occurred or will occur in the office of Superintendent, except when a board determines a vacancy will not occur before six months from the date of termination, the board shall establish a screening committee at least 90 days before the first date on which the position may be filled.
The screening committee shall be composed of two teachers, elected by the teachers, one board member, appointed by the board chairman, one principal, elected by the principals, one parent, elected by the presidents of the parent-teacher organizations of the district, and one classified employee, elected by classified employees.
In the meantime, the Clinton County Board of Education employed Boyd Randolph as Interim Superintendent, but he will be leaving that position at the end of this month, with a new superintendent to be in place by the first of next year.
A total of eight “complete” applications were returned for consideration by the screening committee. There were five “incomplete” applications which will not be considered.
Tim Eaton, Field Consultant with the KSBA (Kentucky School Board Association), who is facilitating the screening committee process in conjunction with the school board, noted last week the low number of applicants may have been, in part, due to the time of the calendar year, noting some people may not want to leave their districts at mid-term to seek a position elsewhere.
The breakdown of the applications received include that six are male and two female; seven are in-state applicants and one is out-of-state.
By current positions held, no current or retired superintendents applied, nor anyone from an educational organizations.  There were four central office workers, two principals, and two teachers who submitted applications.
The local screening committee members consist of: Michael Whittenburg and Shannon Shearer (certified staff); Ammie Marcum (classified staff); Sabra Albertson (principal); Barrett Speck (parent); Bobbie Ann Stone (school board member.)
During the joint meeting with the board, Chairwoman Leslie Stockton gave the following requirements to the screening committee:
1. Maintain the confidentiality of applicants except as may be necessary to check references.
2. Recommend three (3) candidates (more if deemed necessary).
3. Recommended applicants are to be listed in alphabetical order and not ranked.
4. Meet with the board on a date to be determined for the purpose of formally recommending and discussing candidates.
Criteria:
“The board is seeking an innovative and motivational leader with a demonstrated record of improving student achievement and district culture.
“The successful candidate should have previous administrative experience (previous Superintendent experience is preferred) and be committed to instructional excellence, student development, faculty and staff engagement and commitment, and college and career readiness.
“It is critical for the candidate to have the ability to clearly and effectively cast a vision and communicate with our staff members, setting and maintaining the high expectations that are necessary to achieve the district goals of creating the very best educational opportunities for our students.
“Academic rigor and a commitment to transformational leadership will need to be the hallmark of our next leader, and we are seeking a candidate who will be committed to the success of all of our students.
“The candidate should possess strong morals, ethics, and integrity and be committed to fostering those attributes throughout the district.
“The successful candidate will also require the ability to successfully and effectively delegate, demonstrate personnel law, and maintain an intricate knowledge of budgeting, school finances/fiscal responsibility, and maintenance and construction of buildings and grounds.”
A working knowledge of the Kentucky Education System is also required.”
The screening committee process will be held in phases, with the first step having taken place last week with the first meeting, which included receiving applications, determining reference check questions,  determining applicant question, and understanding the procedure for initial screening.
Eaton told the screening committee and school board last week only one, and possibly two more meetings of the screening committee would be required prior to finalist applications being submitted to the school board for full consideration.
A second meeting would include considering candidates for reference checking, using initial screening procedures, assign candidates to reference checks and understand reference check procedures.
A third meeting (if necessary) would be to develop a list of candidates to recommend to the board from all information received.
Following the screening committee meetings, a joint meeting with the school board would be held to formally present recommendations to the board and answer board members’ questions regarding the candidates.
The date for the next joint screening committee/school board members will be announced later.
The board of education only hires two employees in the district, these being Superintendent and School Board Attorney.
The school board will make the final decision later this month on who the next Clinton County Schools Superintendent will be and more details will be published as they become available.