Whitley Co. getting closer to finding its next superintendent

The Whitley County school district moved one step closer to finding its next superintendent Tuesday evening.

The Whitley County Board of Education Superintendent Search Committee met in executive session for about an hour Tuesday evening to review the applications of all five applicants, which includes one out of state applicant, four in-state applicants and two applicants from within the school district.

The committee will reconvene on Tuesday, May 1, to determine how many applicants to recommend to the board of education. It can recommend up to three names.

Whitley County Board Attorney Tim Crawford, who is helping coordinate the search, said the board of education would meet in special session on May 1 to receive the committee’s recommendations.

The board will then go into closed session to begin their consideration of those recommended as well as all other applicants.

“The Board is not bound by those who applied nor by those who will be recommended by the Committee,” Crawford noted.

The superintendent search committee is composed of six members, including one board of education member, two teachers, one principal, one parent and one classified employee.

On March 6, Superintendent Scott Paul presented the board of education with his letter of resignation effective at the close of business on June 30, 2018. He is retiring after 29 years in education, including the last eight years as superintendent.

The only legal requirement to apply for the job is that the applicant must have a valid Kentucky superintendent certificate from the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.

Deputy Superintendent Paula Trickett, who is retiring on the same day as Paul, has said she is absolutely not interested in applying for the superintendent position.