County Commissioner Curtis Adams said the Hamilton County School Board should still name Rick Smith as superintendent, though an advisory panel recommended three out-of-state candidates instead.

Commissioner Adams said Deputy Superintendent Smith "is the right man at the right time to lead our school system."

However, County School Board Chairman Chip Baker defended the selection process. He said the advisory panel had taken pains to come up with top candidates.

Mr. Baker said the School Board had agreed to only consider the three finalists recommended by the advisory panel.

The County School Board met late Monday afternoon to go over the interview process for the three finalists. One is due to be interviewed on Friday and the other two on Saturday.

The three finalists are 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 advisory panel interviewed six candidates last weekend, including Mr. Smith.

Tom Kinser, chairman of the advisory committee, said, "We saw six good people. The issue is who is a match for Hamilton County."

Mr. Kinser said, "The Hamilton County school system has made great progress. It is now time to go to the next level."

Zan Guerry, who served on the panel, told the School Board, "We are presenting three great candidates. They are smart and very well-educated. They all bring great talents."

Dan Challenger, Public Education Foundation president and a member of the committee, said all three "are very impressive in how they have brought results in improving educational achievement."

Board member Rhonda Thurman said she had been reviewing Internet articles on the three finalists. She said, "I've been reading some things about some of the candidates that I'm not real happy about."

She asked about an FBI investigation of the school system where Dr. Scales is a deputy administrator. She said, "Is he going to be called as a witness."

Ms. Thurman also said she read a report about Dr. Harter hiring his wife as a consultant and reports "that principals were forced to use her." She said it appears Dr. Harter has been to some 11 different school districts.

Consultant Bill Attea said there had been no arrests made in the current FBI investigation in Dallas, and he said much of the probe involves matters that pre-dated Dr. Scales' tenure.

He said he did not know about Dr. Harter allegedly hiring his wife as a consultant, and said the board can quiz him about that.

Dr. Attea said, "There is no perfect candidate. You've got to be sure that you don't malign them wrongly."

He said, "The people who are the boldest and who are doing the most for education are the most criticized."

Mr. Guerry praised outgoing Supt. Dr. Jesse Register, while saying that "anyone who Googled him would read reports that would send you to the hospital."

Mr. Kinser said he had noticed that Dr. Harter "has been somewhat of a vagabond." He said he asked him about that, and "he kind of pledged this would be his last hurrah."

Board member Everett Fairchild said he has concerns about the timetable that has the board approving the new superintendent at a meeting March 16.

He said, "I'm very concerned about the way we have hemmed ourselves in."

Marty Puryear, another board member, said there can be an extension if the board is not ready by March 16.

Dr. Attea said one thing that remains is criminal background checks on the finalists. He said such checks are done by a firm that charges $750 each and takes five days to complete a check.

Commissioner Adams said, "I appreciate the time and thoughtful consideration given to the task of selecting a new superintendent for the Hamilton County Schools. I have great respect for Tom Kinser, the chairman of the Selection Committee, and each person who served on this committee with him.

"Any outside person selected will be several years behind Deputy Superintendent Rick Smith because of Rick’s knowledge of the system. It would take months for any of the other candidates to learn the system, learn where the schools are located, and learn the problems we have. Rick already has that training. More importantly, the majority of this community would like to see one of our own that has been tested and proven to be an outstanding educator and a fine Christian gentleman, promoted to this position. Rick will hit the ground running the first day on the job. He has the deepest knowledge of the system, he knows the employees and he is familiar with the issues. He will work well with ALL the elected officials.

"Rick Smith is the right man at the right time to lead our system and he is the right man to get the entire community behind the Hamilton County Schools.

"It is now the time for our elected school board to exert strong leadership and promote a man that has been through the ranks. They will make the final decision.

"We didn’t go out of town to get Chattanooga city mayors Robert Kirk Walker, Pat Rose, Gene Roberts, John Kinsey, Bob Corker and Ron Littlefield. We didn’t go out of town to get Dalton Roberts and Claude Ramsey. Look at the record of Chattanooga mayors and look at the leadership abilities Dalton and Claude have brought to this position. We don’t go out of town to get our sheriff or judges.

"When Tom Kinser retired from Blue Cross, they promoted a very capable Vickie Gregg. When Harold Chandler resigned at UnumProvident, they had Tom Watjen in the wing ready to be promoted. The last time superintendents were brought in from out of town, Harry Reynolds and Jesse Register, they had the academic credentials but neither could bring the community together. Rick Smith can and the elected officials, business leaders, and the public will make sure he is successful. The Courthouse and the Hamilton County Schools will be on the same team and the public will be behind us."

John Bailes, a Democrat who is opposing incumbent Adams for the District 8 County Commission seat, responded, "I support the open door approach by the Selection Committee for the next Hamilton County Schools Superintendent. Yet I was disappointed to read that my opponent, Mr. Adams, called on the school board to ignore the hard work of the Selection Committee in choosing three finalists.

"Clearly what the Selection Committee has decided is that Hamilton County is part of the national economy and global community. The committee chose three candidates who can bring us new ideas from other markets and fresh opportunities for innovation.

"While I respect Mr. Adams’ strong feelings that Deputy Superintendent Rick Smith “is the right man at the right time to lead our school system,” Mr. Adams’ viewpoint is not in alignment with representatives of the civic and business community.

"How disappointing that this senior commissioner can see no merit and position other than his own. It is very difficult to work with such a person in a team setting or at a group drawing board. This is neither a smart business approach, nor the American way. Americans value innovation, not stagnation.

"I hope we continue to work together, not only in choosing our next schools superintendent, but also in electing our new county commissioners. Together — with the school system and the county government — we can bridge the gap between education and business growth."