SUMMERS BOARD DRAFTS SCHOOLS CHIEF QUALIFICATIONS

HINTON - Wanted: A schools superintendent for a rural county in
southeastern West Virginia. The Summers County school board drafted
qualifications for Superintendent Richie Rodes' successor at a special
Tuesday workshop. The final parameters will be approved at the board's
regular Jan. 17 meeting.

Members Cletis Pack, Sue Angell and David Ballard spent an hour with Rodes
and central office administrators discussing the kind of candidate they
want as superintendent July 1. Rodes' retirement is effective June 30.

Business manager Joe Kessler shared a copy of state requirements for
superintendents and several superintendent job postings from other counties.

Ballard said the Ritchie County system is comparable to Summers' and
suggested they use that description as a template. Members agreed.

Pack suggested the posting include goals. "I'd like for the applicant to
know up front that this is what the board expects to be done during their
tenure." He suggested higher test scores, lower dropout rates and
eradicating the county's drug problem as goals.

Curriculum/attendance director Sarah Brown suggested "reducing the county's
drug problem." Putting the responsibility of eradication on the school
system implies it is a school problem instead of a community problem, she said.

Pack agreed with the change, suggesting the superintendent be actively
involved in programs and efforts to combat drug abuse. "Norman Schwarzkopf
couldn't get the drugs out of any county," he said of the popular Gulf War
general.

Ballard suggested the goals include improved student attendance.

Rodes said high standards are commendable but noted the system was recently
awarded full accreditation, which means it meets all state standards.

The qualifications tentatively include: required state certification with
at least a master's degree in school administration and a superintendent
certification, experience as an education leader and administrator,
residence and voter qualification in Summers County and the state code
requirements. Central office experience and at least five years of
administrative experience in public schools are preferred.

The contract term and salary will be negotiable. Rodes' salary is $60,000
annually.

Board members questioned their ability to hire a new superintendent with
four seats up for grabs in the May 14 election.

Kessler said the board can offer up to a four-year contract if the
superintendent is hired before May 1. After that date, the contract term
can be no more than one year.

Members agreed to approve the qualifications at the next meeting and post
the job Jan. 18, with a Feb. 4 deadline for applications. The board will
open applications at the Feb. 7 regular meeting and set a date to review them.