Board Begins to Narrow a Large Field of Candidates

Chairman Joe Brothers has called a special meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education for next week near the Greater Cincinnati Airport. That location accommodates education commissioner candidates flying into the state from elsewhere.

Brothers told Brad Hughes of KSBA that Greenwood & Asher Associates have reviewed more than 300 names, including formal applicants, interested individuals and others recommended by third parties.

“We have about 80 candidates right now, and we’ll start interviewing some of them Sunday, all day Monday and all day Tuesday,” Brothers said. From these first round interviews, the state board will then winnow the field to a much smaller number for more in-depth consideration.

That's at the high end of KSN&C's estimate of 76, but Brothers acknowledged that applications are continuing to come in, as recently as Wednesday, and there could be more interviews scheduled as those individuals are reviewed.

Brothers told KSBA that the board, which decided to work as a committee of the whole, are simply working through the long process, but he still considers the board to be on schedule to meet its self-imposed goal of identifying a commissioner by August 1.

So if you don't have anything better to do starting Sunday, grab your camera and head to Hebron to catch some snaps of the candidates as they file through the Airport Marriott. You send 'em, we'll post 'em.

By Tuesday the board plans to have identified a group of candidates who will undergo further reference checks - a very good idea.

If the board wants some help (fat chance) KSN&C has a little experience in this area and would be glad to assist - even confidentially until the finalists are named publicly.

Wouldn't that be a radical idea? A public-private partnership.

Here's the meeting agenda.

KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION
JUNE 14-16, 2009

MARRIOTT CINCINNATI AIRPORT
2395 PROGRESS DRIVE
HEBRON, KY 41048


Sunday, June 14, 2009

WORKING GROUP DINNER/ BUSINESS SESSION - FULL BOARD
6:00 p.m. (EDT)

(Closed session immediately after roll call per KRS 61.810 (1)(f))

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Working dinner/Discussion of individual candidates for commissioner's position (Closed session per KRS 61.810 (1)(f))

RECESS

Monday, June 15, 2009

BUSINESS SESSION - FULL BOARD (CONT'D)

7:00 a.m. - Recess (EDT)
(Closed session continued per KRS 61.810 (1)(f))
(Note: The day's meeting includes a working breakfast, working lunch and working dinner.)

IV. Interview of candidates for commissioner of education's position

RECESS

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

BUSINESS SESSION - FULL BOARD (CONT'D)

7:00 a.m. - Adjournment (EDT)
(Closed session continued per KRS 61.810 (1)(f))
(Note: The day's meeting includes a working breakfast and working lunch.)

V. Interview of candidates for commissioner of education's position (Cont'd)
VI. Discussion of interviews and determination of candidates for reference checks
VII. Adjournment