Morgan Hensley

Staff Writer

Harlan County Board of Education called a special meeting on Sunday to interview possible candidates for the open superintendent position for the Harlan County school system.

Three potential candidates were interviewed Sunday evening with backgrounds in education. Those three candidates are Mike Howard, current interim superintendent, David Maynard, an elementary school principal from Manchester and Debbie Finley, Chief Academic Officer for Russell Independent Schools located in Greenup County.

Potential candidate Mike Howard, former assistant superintendent, was named interim superintendent after Tim Saylor’s retirement on July 1.

“During executive session we interviewed three candidates for the superintendent position,” said Harlan County Board of Education Chairman Gary Farmer. “There was no decision made tonight. We will be scheduling a meeting for the week of Aug. 7 and plan to come to a decision during that meeting.”

The three candidates for superintendent were selected from a number of applicants by the Screening Committee. School districts are required by administrative regulation to establish a screening committee to help in the search for a new superintendent.

The Screening Committee consists of one board member appointed by the chairman, one principal elected by district principals, two teachers elected by district teachers, one classified staff elected by the classified staff and one parent elected by the presidents of school PTOs.

Although the Screening Committee was used in the selection process, the final decision is the board’s to make.

“It was late in the year when this vacancy occurred,” said Farmer. “Normally we would have had someone already in place. We are trying to make a selection as soon as possible.”

The board is working to have a superintendent in place before the school year begins. Harlan County Schools will begin on Aug 8.

Reach Morgan Hensley at 606-573-4510 or mhensley@heartlandpublications.com