Parents will soon meet the two finalists for the top job in the Kansas City Public Schools.
The district late Friday announced two forums scheduled for Jan. 14 at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Each candidate will be available for an hour to the public and the media.
The names of the finalists have not been released, but both are from out of town. The district's interim superintendent, Al Tunis, is not in the running. The district says the names will be released 48 hours before the public forums.
“The KCPS School Board is committed to securing parent and community input as we make decisions about the selection of the district’s next Superintendent,” Board Chair Jon Hile said in a statement. “These upcoming candidate forums are an important opportunity for students, parents, educators and partners to help shape a great future for KCPS.”
The district says a new superintendent will be on board by July, with a salary between $210,000 and $250,000 a year, according to the posted job description.
Whoever takes over the district will be tasked with implementing a new master plan the school board is still contemplating. The current administration wanted to make significant boundary changes and close three schools before next school year, but the board slowed down that process and it appears no changes will be made until the 2016-2017 school year.
The search for a new superintendent launched in July shortly after former Superintendent Steven Green unexpectedly announced he was taking over the DeKalb County School District in suburban Atlanta.
Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR. He's also co-host of KCUR's political podcast Statehouse Blend. Follow him on Twitter @samzeff.
