Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 9, 1990 TAG: 9005090499
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARGARET CAMLIN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Burns and his wife swung by Columbus on his way back from Gainesville, Fla., where he was attending his daughter's college graduation.
He is one of four finalists for the superintendent post in Muscogee County, a 30,000-student district.
Burns confirmed Tuesday night that he and his wife toured the Columbus area with two members of the Muscogee County School Board who came to Pulaski County two weeks ago to interview various people about his work.
It was not an official visit, Burns said.
"They have to make a decision and I have to make a decision. It's easier for me not to face up to my decision until they make theirs."
"I liked Columbus - it's a wonderful town," he said.
Burns will return to Columbus for final interviews next Thursday and Friday, he said.
The Muscogee County School Board chairman confirmed Tuesday that Burns had visited Columbus, but he said he didn't have time to talk about it. He asked a reporter to call back today.
Not all Muscogee County School Board members knew of Burns' visit.
Board member Merryll Penson said she found out by reading Tuesday morning's Columbus Gazette.
"My assumption is he casually drove through," she said. "I guess if I were considering moving to a community . . . I would have made a decision to make a little detour to get a flavor" for it. Penson said Burns and the other three candidates are scheduled to visit Columbus next week for final meetings with the board.
She said the board could make its decision as early as May 18.
Burns came to Pulaski County schools last July from Indian River County (Vero Beach), Fla.
He said two weeks ago that the Muscogee County school system is the "only district in America I'd talk to."
He said it's become increasingly difficult to be so far away from where his parents, his wife's parents, and his children live.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on May 10, 1990 in the New River Edition.\ Correction
\ Because of a reporter's error, a story Wednesday about Pulaski County School Superintendent James Burns' visit to Columbus, Ga., incorrectly named that city's newspaper. It is the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
Memo: correction