The Lewis County School District has received 22 applications to fill the superintendent vacancy created due to the retirement of Maurice Reeder.
According to Board of Education Chairman Bryan McRoberts, the next steps in the search will consist of the superintendent search committee meeting several times in order to narrow the 22 applications down to five and present those to the board for consideration.
The screening committee is made up of one board member, one principal, two teachers, a classified position and one parent, according to McRoberts.
"There can be more or less, but the board recommended for them to bring the best applicants to us for consideration," McRoberts said.
According to McRoberts, the chosen candidates will be interviewed July 17-25.
McRoberts said he would like to have someone hired before Reeder's last day, which falls on July 30, in order to keep from having to hire an interim. However, the board fully intends to have a new superintendent hired by Aug. 3.
"It is our intent to have someone hired by Aug. 3, but we want to pick the very best person for the county and the children of Lewis County," McRoberts said. "If it takes longer than our goal date then that is what we will do. Our goal is to get the best person for the job so we can get the school year started with a new superintendent so that this transition can be as transparent as possible for all involved. We are looking for a great year and have high expectations for a very successful and productive school year."
Reeder tendered his retirement to the board at the beginning of May, saying it was "time to go."
"I have 41 years of experience with the district," he said in May. "I could have retired five years ago or I could retire five years from now. I'm not one of those people who get my time in and get excited about retirement. I'm not excited, but I think it is time to go. It's not going to get better and it's not going to get worse, so I should just go."
(story provided by The Ledger Independent, online at: http://www.maysville-online.com)