Trinity will hire superintendent without public input
The public will not have a chance to meet the superintendent Trinity Area School Board plans to hire before a vote is taken on his employment.
The agenda from Thursday’s meeting included a motion to hire the superintendent, upon the release from his current employer. The motion was up for discussion, but not approval at that meeting, meaning the vote will take place at the Feb. 18 meeting. The superintendent candidate was not identified on the agenda and the board did not name him during Thursday’s meeting.
The new hire will replace Superintendent Thomas Turnbaugh, who left over the summer. The district has had two acting superintendents while it searches for a replacement.
Two fathers asked the board Thursday whether the community would have a chance to question any finalist, as was suggested by board members previously.
“I was told we would be involved in the process,” said South Strabane resident Mike Williamson.
North Franklin resident Ed Brownlee said the board has once again disregarded public opinion by making the decision in the cover of darkness.
“You promised that there would be community input,” he said.
Board members did not comment on the matter during the meeting. However, after the meeting, consultant James Manley said board members discussed whether to have the public meet with the finalists.
However, they determined that they wanted to protect the confidentiality of the finalists, said Manley, who is helping with the search.
Some districts have an open hiring process. Trinity chose not to because it wants a superintendent who already has central office experience, Manley said. That means the most qualified applicants likely are working in other districts as assistant superintendents or superintendents, he said.
They didn’t want to keep educators from applying because their current employer might find out about it, Manley said.
More than 20 people applied for the job, he said.
Trinity is down to one finalist and is negotiating the details of the contract, he said.
The agenda from Thursday’s meeting included a motion to hire the superintendent, upon the release from his current employer. The motion was up for discussion, but not approval at that meeting, meaning the vote will take place at the Feb. 18 meeting. The superintendent candidate was not identified on the agenda and the board did not name him during Thursday’s meeting.
The new hire will replace Superintendent Thomas Turnbaugh, who left over the summer. The district has had two acting superintendents while it searches for a replacement.
Two fathers asked the board Thursday whether the community would have a chance to question any finalist, as was suggested by board members previously.
“I was told we would be involved in the process,” said South Strabane resident Mike Williamson.
North Franklin resident Ed Brownlee said the board has once again disregarded public opinion by making the decision in the cover of darkness.
“You promised that there would be community input,” he said.
Board members did not comment on the matter during the meeting. However, after the meeting, consultant James Manley said board members discussed whether to have the public meet with the finalists.
However, they determined that they wanted to protect the confidentiality of the finalists, said Manley, who is helping with the search.
Some districts have an open hiring process. Trinity chose not to because it wants a superintendent who already has central office experience, Manley said. That means the most qualified applicants likely are working in other districts as assistant superintendents or superintendents, he said.
They didn’t want to keep educators from applying because their current employer might find out about it, Manley said.
More than 20 people applied for the job, he said.
Trinity is down to one finalist and is negotiating the details of the contract, he said.
Labels: Trinity superintendent
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