THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 31, 1995 TAG: 9512290267
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: 1995: YEAR IN REVIEW
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
The departure of school superintendent Sidney L. Faucette last summer left the Beach School Board faced with critically important task of hiring someone to serve as the district's Chief Executive Officer.
In June, the board announced that deputy superintendent James L. Pughsley would become the interim superintendent. A few weeks later an executive search firm was hired to look nationwide for Faucette's permanent successor.
Early on, the district's financial crisis became apparent and, as that picture grew gloomier, some worried that qualified applicants would not want the job. Ultimately, however, 39 people did apply, including Pughsley.
A citizen's panel took community comment on the qualities needed in the superintendent. A survey of board members placed financial management skills at the top of the list.
The names of applicants remained carefully guarded throughout the process to insure privacy. The initial pool was eventually narrowed to a smaller group from which the board chose five people to interview. Of those, three were chosen finalists - Bob Bowers of the South-Western City School District in Grove City, Ohio; Tim Jenney, superintendent of the Greenville (S.C.) County Schools and Pughsley.
The selection of the finalists came on the heels of the decision to have a special grand jury probe the district's finances. Some in the community began to urge the board to delay a decision until after the grand jury probe and some board member said they felt the process was moving too fast. A majority of the community advisory committee drafted a letter suggesting the board wait.
A majority of the board, however, wanted to proceed. In a tense 48-hour period, Pughsley - the internal favorite - and Bowers withdrew their names from consideration, and the board voted to offer Jenney a contract. Barring any unforeseen problems negotiating the terms of the job, he is expected to join the district as early as February.
- Tom Holden ILLUSTRATION: Tim Jenney, superintendent of the Greenville (S.C.) County
Schools, won out over two other finalists.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB