THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 16, 1995 TAG: 9511160246
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
The School Board began interviewing candidates for the superintendent's post Wednesday at a beachfront hotel but are carefully guarding any information about who is in the running for the job.
Almost 40 applicants were interested in leading the state's second largest school division, but board members are said to be considering a much smaller pool at this point. Board chairwoman June T. Kernutt declined to say how many people are being interviewed, but she did say the board hopes to name someone by early December.
``We are moving quickly,'' she said.
Other board members declined comment.
The interviews began Wednesday morning and will continue Friday evening and Monday afternoon.
Kernutt said the interviews were being held at the Holiday Inn at 39th and Atlantic to help protect the confidentiality of the candidates. The board had been advised by the firm coordinating the search, Charlotte-based Sockwell & Associates, that some job applicants would prefer to keep their interest in the position private, at least until the search reaches the finalist stage.
Interim Superintendent James L. Pughsley is the only declared candidate for the job. Pughsley could not reached for comment Wednesday evening, but he reportedly is being interviewed.
It is unclear what impact the school district's financial crisis has had on the search. Susan N. Jernigan, a partner with Sockwell & Associates, has said prospective candidates had questions about the fiscal situation but were not put off by it.
The board chose Sockwell & Associates to conduct a nationwide search after Superintendent Sidney L. Faucette left the Beach schools this summer to lead a district in Georgia. by CNB