Kansas City Public Schools has reached inside the district for an interim superintendent to fill the shoes of outgoing Stephen Green.
The school board Wednesday night tapped Chief Financial Officer Al Tunis as interim head of the 15,000-student district.
Green is set to leave the district in a few weeks to go to Georgia. Green spoke with KCUR's Steve Kraske last week about his departure on Up To Date.
“Having Mr. Tunis at the helm of KCPS will allow us to continue on our path to full state accreditation and beyond while we search for our new, permanent leader,” board chair Jon Hile said in a statement.
The school board says it also has picked a consulting firm to help search for the new, permanent superintendent. The board hopes to make that choice by next spring.
The choice of Tunis was expected by many in Kansas City educational circles. He's been district CFO since 2011 and helped right some very shaky finances when he took over.
“We wanted someone who we knew would work well with stake holders in the community. Obviously we wanted someone who would work well with our families, our students and our parents and ensure to that they feel supported, Hile says."
"I'm pleased Al Tunis has been named interim superintendent,” Kansas City Mayor Sly James said in a news release. “He will carry on the great momentum put in place by Dr. Green."
Early in his career, Tunis was a principal in the Park Hill School District. He also spent 10 years as an administrator at Metropolitan Community College.
