Three out-of-state school superintendents are finalists to replace Dr. Jesse Register as Hamilton County School superintendent.
The Superintendent Search Advisory Committee on Saturday afternoon chose Dr. Bruce Harter, superintendent of the Brandywine School District in Claymont, Del.; Dr. Steve Wilmoth, superintendent of Liberty County Schools in Hinesville, Ga., and Dr. Jim Scales, deputy superintendent for administrative services for the Dallas Independent School District at College Station, Tex.
The County School Board will make the final choice.
Others who were interviewed were Deputy Hamilton County School Supt. Rick Smith, Dr. Charles Lindsey, Knox County superintendent who formerly was at Catoosa County, and Dr. Michael Martin, superintendent of Putnam County Schools in Cookeville.
Members of the panel were Tom Kinser, chairman; and Zan Guerry, Maxine Cousin, Ron Fugatt, Sandy Hughes, Dan Challener, Don Warrington, Russell Gilbert and County Commission Chairman Larry Henry. Ms. Cousin did not hear all the candidates and did not get to vote.
After hearing from the six contenders on Friday afternoon and much of Saturday, the committee members were asked to choose their top three candidates.
Consultant Bill Attea said Dr. Harter, Dr. Wilmoth and Dr. Scales received at least five votes each.
Mr. Kinser said prior to the vote, "We have six really good candidates. We're not scratching for three. We're making hard choices."
Dr. Wilmoth has been at the Liberty County Schools for five years. He previously was superintendent at Fort Gibson, Okla., and Fairland, Okla.
Dr. Harter has been at Brandywine School District for five years. It has 10,700 students and a budget of $123 million.
Dr. Scales, who is the only black candidate, has been in his current position since 2001. He previously was area superintendent at Tulsa, Okla.
The County School Board has set meetings to make the final selection.
Board members are to visit the home district of their choice prior to the April 20 vote.
The School Board will meet in the board room at 6703 Bonny Oaks Dr. as follows:
Monday, March 6 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Interview Training
Thursday, March 9 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Budget Work Session
Friday, March 10 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Interview Candidate
Saturday, March 11 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Interview Candidates
Discussion
The Hamilton County Board of Education will meet at 3 p.m. on
Thursday, March 16, to identify the final candidate for superintendent. The place for this meeting will be announced.
The Hamilton County Board of Education will meet in quarterly session on Thursday, March 16, at 5 p.m. in the auditorium at Tyner
Academy.