Silberman Remains Committed to Fayette County

"I plan to keep my word

and will not be an applicant."

- Stu Silberman

Only last week Jon Draud announced that health problems had prompted his retirement as Kentucky Education Commisssioner.

That was the same week speculation began about who Kentucky's next commissioner might be. KSN&C readers have already begun suggesting names. One of them is very familiar - Stu Silberman.

The last time around, the finalists included:

• Richard Hughes, a professor at Morehead State University and former superintendent of the Hardin County school district


• Larry Vick, superintendent of the Owensboro Independent school district, and


• Jim Warford, executive director/CEO of the Florida Association of School Administrators and a former chancellor for Florida’s public schools

The time before that, the Board - in its infinite wisdom - outsourced its responsibilities, announced only one finalist and set up the Barbara Erwin debacle.

So who's out there?

Blake Heselton is now mopping up a huge mess at UofL left by indicted former Dean Robert Felner. One supposes he will be committed to The Ville for a while. But if things aren't going well at Louisville - Is the commissioner's post a big enough excuse to jump ship?

Other in-state names include former OEA honcho Penney Sanders and Roger Marcum who recently announced his retirement from Marion County. Is Deputy Commissioner Elaine Farris ready for the top job? Senator Kelly had some nice things to say about her recently.

Then there's Stu Silberman. In each of the last two commissioner searches, Silberman took himself out of consideration citing his promise to Fayette Countians to stabilize the leadership in the state's second largest school district by committing to a ten-year tenure.

Once again Silberman says he's not interested and will not apply.

The greatest probability, however, is that the board will listen to the governor (for a change)decide to conduct a national search and our finalists will be folks we don't know yet. KSN&C will produce some background information on whomever the finalists are, as usual.