KBE still on the fast track, loses candidate

Raviya Ismail reports for the Herald-Leader...

Semifinalist for education post pulls out

MARION COUNTY SCHOOLS CHIEF CITES
ISSUE OF FAMILY TIME

Marion County schools Superintendent Roger Marcum has pulled out of the race for state education commissioner. Marcum, president of the state superintendents' association, was one of about nine semifinalists for the job...

...Marcum said he wanted to spend more time with his family and continue work as an education administrator on the local level.

"But (withdrawing) had nothing to do with the process or anything else. It was entirely about me," he said. "All my dealings with the Kentucky Board of Education on this have been very professional." ... ["I believe I was doing this because so many folks throughout the state encouraged me to do so, but it never felt right."]

..."There are still some very strong candidates," said board Chairman Joe Brothers, who was notified of Marcum's decision Monday....

Marcum's name was immediately mentioned by educators as a quality candidate once the board refocused their search on Kentucky candidates. But there were also rumors alleging that Senate President David Williams had declared him an unacceptable candidate because of his presidency of the Council for Better Education, which sued Williams and the General Assembly claiming the legislature had failed in its duty to provide adequately funded schools. It was unclear what impact Williams' concern might have had on a board of education appointed by Governor Ernie Fletcher, but it surely would have had some impact.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Board of Education is still on the fast track and plans to name a commissioner before any change in the governor's office might occur. The current plan is to announce three finalists around October 28th and select a couple of weeks later, on November 13th.

Kentucky Association of School Administrators Executive Director Wayne Young regretted the loss of Marcum from consideration. He told H-L Marcum was "a top-notch candidate. ... I hate to hear that we lost one of our own from that search."

KSN&C regrets Marcum's withdrawal as well.