The District 55 School Board will interview seven finalists for superintendent.
The candidates include the following in alphabetical order:
— William Feusahrens, superintendent in Filer, Idaho, since 1993.
— Gerald Hamilton, assistant superintendent in Klamath Falls since 2000.
— Ivan Hernandez, director of administrative services in Newport since 1998.
— Larry Horton, superintendent in Oakridge since 1996.
— Eric Newton, superintendent in Green River, Wyo., since 1998.
— Daniel Rodriguez, superintendent in Old Bridge, N.J., since 1997.
— Jan Sharp, curriculum and staff development director in Sweet Home since 1997.
“These are the ones we’ve called working from the top of the list down,” Board Chairman Milt Moran said. Board officers checked references on the top group of applicants selected by a local screening committee. The board officers removed a couple of applicants from the list after checking references and continued down the list.
“This is a good group,” Moran said. “This is a top group of people basically, and they’ve all agreed to come for an interview.”
Moran is looking forward to meeting them, he said. “Right now, they’re just a piece of paper.”
The School Board has established its list of questions for interviews. The board met in executive session Tuesday night to go over formalities for the interviews.
Interviews will begin on Feb. 24 and run through March 2. Each candidate will be given a tour of the district with dinner or lunch depending on the time of day.
A group of board members will visit some of the candidates’ school districts from March 4 to March 22.
The board is scheduled to offer a contract by the April 8 board meeting. There will be an executive session between March 22 and April 8 to make decisions and prepare a contract.
“I feel like we have some good strong candidates here,” Moran said. “They look really good, and they come with some good recommendations.”
Supt. Bill Hampton will retire on June 30.