Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 14, 1994 TAG: 9401140272
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Some of the names on that list are pretty familiar - they already work for the county school system.
The School Board's "short list" contains "more than one" candidate from within the county school system, School Board Chairman Frank Thomas said. He would not be more specific.
Both Assistant Superintendent Deanna Gordon and Director of Instruction Garland Life have been named as possible candidates for the position. Life competed with Wilson for the job 13 years ago.
One person applying from within received unanimous support from board members, representatives of the Virginia School Board Association and a 10-member citizens' advisory committee, Thomas said. Another current employee received support from many involved in the selection process.
The advisory committee came up with an even shorter list, handing the board its six choices for the post Wilson plans to leave June 30.
"It was pretty easy to pick out 12," said Debbie McClure, president of the Roanoke County Education Association and chairwoman of the advisory committee. "We wanted to take it further."
Board members agreed with nearly all the committee's choices, Thomas said. But after reviewing the 39 applications, they had a few names of their own to add.
"As far as their qualifications, they're all awfully close," Thomas said.
The 39 applicants included 25 candidates from Virginia and 14 candidates from nine other states, Thomas said. Twenty-two of the candidates were superintendents or former superintendents. Eight were assistant superintendents, six were central office administrators, and three held other jobs.
Thomas said the board would decide by Jan. 27 which of the 11 candidates it would call for interviews.
by CNB