Decatur’s school board is currently interviewing finalists for the superintendent’s job and has at least a week to 10 days left of weighing potential candidates, which includes background checks. On Tuesday City Schools Decatur consultant Brad Draeger said that candidate interviews were “progressing very well,” adding that he wouldn’t be surprised if a new superintendent was announced by Sept. 15.
Draeger said a total 90 applied from 28 states coast to coast. Of those about 20 percent are sitting superintendents and another 40 percent are assistant superintendents, chief academic officers or some form of a second-in-command. Community members stated in surveys and meetings Draeger conducted that hiring a sitting superintendent wasn’t as important as simply hiring “the best candidate available.” Current Superintendent Phyllis Edwards was an assistant when she was hired in 2003.
Edwards resigned in March, though her contract runs through Dec. 31. Even if a new superintendent is hired this month there is yet no indication when that person can start work.
Draeger wouldn’t confirm how many finalists are getting interviewed, though Board Chairman Garrett Goebel has stated it could be as many as 18.
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