There were no local candidates among the six finalists in the search for Brewton City School’s next superintendent.
More than 40 people expressed an interest in the position that will become vacant June 30 with the retirement of current superintendent Lynn Smith. Smith will leave the system after 36 years of service.
In February, the board contracted with the state association of school boards to coordinate the search. Monday, the board was presented with the results of the “unique search.”
“There were 32 applications, eight of which had superintendent experience,” said AASB’s Dr. Terry Jenkins. “What made it unusual was of those 32, 19 were from Alabama, and one from Arizona, one from Florida, one from Georgia, one from Illinois, one from Indiana, one from Iowa, one from Mississippi, one from North Carolina, one from Pennsylvania and one from Virginia.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen a spread like before,” he said of the candidate pool. “You asked for five candidates, but we felt compelled to give you six.”
Candidate finalists include, in alphabetical order:
• Monty K. Aldrich, superintendent, North Clay CUSD, Louisville, Ill.;
• Dr. Boyd English, principal, Charles Henderson High School, Troy;
• Dr. Carla Evers, director of instructional programs, Gulfport School District, Gulfport, Miss.;
• Kyle S. Kallhoff, superintendent, Chickasaw City Board of Education, Mobile;
• Wade A. Shipman, superintendent, Fayette County Board of Education, Fayette; and,
• Dr. Kenneth C. Varner, superintendent, Tallassee City Schools, Tallassee.
Jenkins said three other Alabama systems are beginning the superintendent search and urged the board from “dragging your feet.”
“You have to pick the candidate that is best for you, for Brewton,” he said. “These candidates are in the prime parts of their career, and they want to come to Brewton. You should work quickly to get first shot.”
The board set public interviews April 13-16, 20 and 21 – pending scheduling confirmation – with one candidate per day with a meet-and-greet reception daily from 4:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. A 15-question interview session will follow. During the day, candidates will tour the system’s facilities, meet teachers, administrators and community leaders and visit local landmarks. Board Chairman Stephanie Walker notified candidates Monday night of their selection.
Aldrich will interview April 13; English, Tuesday; Evers, Wednesday; Shipman, Thursday; Varner, Monday and Kallhoff, Tues., April 21, Walker said.