The County School Board on Thursday night began easing into a search for a new school superintendent with first steps on the process to be taken and qualifications to be sought.
Chairman Jonathan Welch said at a work session that the board will discuss the issue further at next Thursday's board session.
Some board members said the new superintendent should have an education background with degrees, while Rhonda Thurman and Greg Martin said that was not a priority for them. They had earlier backed Shaun Sadler, who has a military background, for interim superintendent.
Donna Horn, a former teacher, said an educational background is a must for her.
But Rhonda Thurman said, "If a doctoral degree was a silver bullet, then we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. The grass may look greener (with a degree), but there can be a lot of mold in the grass."
Ms. Thurman also said she is not eager to hold a series of community meetings on the issue. She said at the prior selection process at most meetings all but about 20 people were school employees.
However, Karitsa Mosley said the community is anxious to be involved and their voices should be heard. She said a recent school meeting at Howard drew a thousand people. "They were parking back in the grass."
She said an upcoming meeting at the Bessie Smith Hall may also be packed. "I have never seen such excitement about education."
But she said some people "think we are the worse nine people in the county. They've got a voice and they're judging us from every angle."
Steve Highlander noted it will be "the nine of us making the final decision, but it would be great to listen."
Chairman Welch said he has been getting advice on numerous ways the board could proceed, but he was focusing on existing school board policy on the subject. He said has sections on a job description, timeline and process.
He said he believes the board will need to use a search firm to help.
Chairman Welch advised "being careful on the timeline. We want to find the right person and do our due diligence."
David Testerman said, "I would hate to see a timeline. Right now I think we need to find the right person as expeditiously and diligently as we can."
George Ricks said the board should "take our time. We shouldn't rush."
He added, "We should think out of the box and hear from the community." He said the community and the business sector should have involvement.
Interim Supt. Kirk Kelly defended his decision to place award-winning Normal Park Principal Jill Levine to the new post of chief academic officer.
He said it would help in a reorganization that would better balance the administrative workload and take duties off Asst. Supt. Robert Sharpe.
Dr. Kelly said there would be no additional cost to the schools because he and staff members are continuing the work of the accountability and testing department.
Ms. Thurman and Dr. Highlander said the interim superintendent could not keep up with the important accountability and testing work in the long run and a replacement there would be needed. They said that would be "adding to the bureaucracy."
Dr. Highland said, "The people in my district are not for that." He also said the board should have been briefed on the move.
Joe Galloway defended the Kelly action, saying, "I don't have a better plan. I'm for giving it a shot."
Mr. Ricks said, "Let's give this a chance. At least the man had the guts to come in here and make some changes."
He said there was "too much bickering" on the board. He said, "We need to stop it and tone down."
Chairman Welch said Dr. Kelly had kept the board informed and a move not involving additional funds did not need board approval.
Dr. Kelly said he wanted to hire a person to deal with the news media and the public prior to the next school year. He said the county had such a position, and he said the county schools is a bigger operation than the county. He said the schools might be able to find a grant writer for the post, who could help pay their way. He said they needed to be well versed in social media.
He said it was "not a Level 3 position. It's a coordinator position."
Ms. Thurman said she did not "want to pay somebody $100,000 to stand up and say 'the teachers are still teaching and the children are still learning.'"
She said she would not vote for adding a single person to the central office until Sale Creek School gets some of the teacher it needs.