New School Board superintendent to be announced April 1
By Dwight Otwell Editor

Randall Shields was appointed to the All-State Board.

The Cherokee County Board of Education hopes to get the best possible superintendent by setting their search process in gear early.

The board plans to announce the new superintendent on April Fool's Day, April 1, 2008.

"I want to make sure we make our choice and make an offer before any other school boards if we are in competition for the same candidate," said Board member Dr. Brian Mitchell.

"I was told that it would be a month and maybe more ahead of most school districts (who are looking for a superintendent)," said Board Chairman Dr. David Ackerman.

The board voted to use the North Carolina School Board Association (NCSBA) to help them find a superintendent rather than go it alone. The board will also get assistance from Dr. Metcalf at WRESA.

School Board member Randy Barnett said several people asked him why the school board should spend $7,000 for a superintendent search when the school board could do it themselves.

"I am opposed," Barnett said. "We could put $7,000 into the classroom."

School Board member Winfield Clonts said they should use the NCSBA due to their experience in superintendent searches. Clonts said he knows of a school board that did their own search and they have had four superintendents in three years.

School Board member Paula Watson said $7,000 spent to hire a superintendent would be money well spent.

Board member Debbie Hogan said the NCSBA has done over 50 school board searches for superintendents.

It was estimated that using a consultant for the superinten- dent search would cost between $5,000 to $10,000 while an inhouse search would cost between $3,000 to $7,500.

Ackerman said the NCSBA would perform all administration duties, advertise, maintain confidentiality and do background checks.

The motion to get assistance in the search was approved 6-1 with Barnett voting against it.

Advertising of the vacancy created by Dr. Jeanette Hedrick's retirement will begin November 19. The application deadline is January 31. A meeting on applications to choose interviewees will be March 3-6. Meetings for initial interviews and to select finalists will be March 10-15. Meetings for final interviews/ community visits will be March 24-28. The new superintendent will be announced April 1.

In another matter, the board tabled for a month consideration of having two meetings a month with one meeting being closed to the public for consideration of mainly personnel matters.