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McCracken Schools Begins Search for Superintendent

McCracken Schools Begins Search for Superintendent
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By West Kentucky Star Staff
Mar. 22, 2019 | PADUCAH
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 22, 2019 | 04:57 PM | PADUCAH
At Thursday's McCracken County School Board meeting, two more steps were taken in the process to find a new superintendent.

Board members approved forming a Superintendent Screening Committee, and also approved a contract with the Kentucky School Boards Association to assist in the search for a new superintendent for a term beginning July 1. The KSBA has assisted the school system with selecting superintendents since 1992.

KSBA Consultant Pete Galloway told West Kentucky Star earlier this week that the KSBA website will be used for candidates to apply, and he will help the committee in any way he can during the vetting process, when he is asked.

Certified teachers, principals and classified staff are currently working to choose representatives for the committee, and PTO presidents will choose a parent representative (for more on how that committee is structured, see our related story in the link below).

Board Chair Steve Shelby told West Kentucky Star he appointed Kelly Walker to be the board's representative on the committee based on her experience.

"She is a graduate of Baylor University, she has a Master's (degree) in communication disorders, she has 33 years experience in school systems in Texas and Kentucky," Shelby said.

The board said the process of filling the position will likely take some time, and will involve advertising for applicants, the screening of applicants by both the screening committee and the board, and interviewing the final candidates.

When former Superintendent Brian Harper was hired in 2017 he was not on the recommendation list from the committee. When asked whether he thought the board would be more likely to choose a candidate from those recommendations this time, Shelby said he wouldn't presume to speak on how the larger group would vote.

However, Shelby said applicants to the KSBA website might be the same for several districts across the state, but that doesn't make every one of them, "a good fit," for this district. He said he expects the committee and the KSBA will do "a wonderful job of selecting candidates."

Harper resigned earlier this month. He is now being investigated by Kentucky State Police for possible misuse of school funds.

Several people spoke at the meeting Thursday night, with some encouraging the board to use wisdom during the search and to keep students as the top priority. Others criticized the board for some of their actions since multiple criminal investigations involving staff, coaches or students came to light. Others at the meeting criticized some members of the media for how they have covered the events. 

In other business, the board amended the remaining school calendar by one day to reflect 175 student days instead of 176. This means Friday, May 17 will still be the last day for students, but teachers will report on May 20-21. 

Saturday, May 18 was also approved as graduation day for the class of 2019, with ceremonies held at Marquette Stadium at 7:30 pm. 

On the Net:

Police Investigating Harper, Use of District Funds
Story from Wednesday: Superintendent Screening Committee Being Formed
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