THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 11, 1995 TAG: 9501110446
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Looking to stay the course in a school system that has had stable leadership for 15 years, School Board members decided late Monday not to throw the doors open immediately to outside candidates to replace Superintendent C. Fred Bateman.
Board members instead will give first consideration to qualified applicants from within the Chesapeake public school system.
School Board Chairman Jessie Lee Jr. said it is a matter of respect for administrators who have worked hard to help Bateman build a successful school system.
Lee said he understands the ``frustration of working very, very hard and being overlooked. It's a very touchy point with me.
``I think looking inside first is almost a necessity.''
The board's action comes 10 weeks after Bateman made a surprise announcement that he would retire this summer after 19 years of service in Chesapeake, 15 years at the helm. Since then, citizens and school workers have barraged the School Board with comments about selecting the next leader.
Most have emphasized a desire to continue the conservative tone that has characterized Bateman's reign. Many also have expressed fear of the impending change - that it might bring a boss who would seek to change things too quickly or who wouldn't care about Chesapeake's history and traditions.
Such insecurity compounds the difficulty of hiring a new superintendent for School Board members who never have had to undertake such a task before. All nine were appointed during the past few years of Bateman's tenure; two were appointed just last month.
School Board member James J. Wheaton, who along with Lynn K. Pierce dissented on the decision to give first consideration to inside candidates, said he was uneasy with ``artificially limiting our search.''
To ensure that the final choice is the best one, he said, the board should open up interviews to all qualified candidates.
Mayor William E. Ward agreed.
``Generally, I would think that an open, broad-based search which will allow both for candidates in and out of the system to apply will allow for a much more in-depth search to be conducted,'' he said.
``It serves the interests of the Chesapeake school system to get the very best possible candidates to review and consider. By restricting it to in-house candidates, it excludes other possible excellent, visionary candidates outside.'' MEMO: Staff writer Francie Latour contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
APPLYING FOR THE JOB
What? A new superintendent for Chesapeake schools.
Who can apply? Right now, applicants are limited to qualified
candidates employed by the Chesapeake school system.
How? Send resumes by noon on Jan. 30 to School Board Chairman
Jessie Lee Jr., c/o Board Clerk Edward L. Hughes, Chesapeake Public
Schools, School Administration Building, 300 Cedar Road, P.O. Box
15204, Chesapeake, 23328.
by CNB