BRISTOL, Va. – The city’s next school superintendent should be a well-rounded educator who emphasizes academics.
That was the general consensus of the three city residents who voiced their wishes during a brief public hearing at the city School Board office. Only six people attended the board’s 14-minute called meeting.
Board members are a month away from beginning to interview prospective replacements for Ina Danko, who is retiring next June.
“We would like to see someone with experience at all levels – primary, middle and upper,” said Mary Shaffer, a teacher and president of the Bristol Virginia Education Association. “And this will get a chuckle, but we want someone who will stay with us a little longer, like us and get to know us and our city.”
Danko has held the post for less than two years, after serving as principal at Virginia High and Virginia Middle schools. She is the division’s third superintendent in the past five years.
After polling teachers and support personnel, the association wants someone concerned with “all areas” of learning, from academics to athletics and fine arts, Shaffer said.
Academics was the primary focus of the other two speakers, Frank Goodpasture III and his wife, Jerry.
“I believe the board has a good handle on its finances. You have the right people in place,” Frank Goodpasture said. “I would look to find an individual with more talent on the curriculum side and management side, as opposed to someone who’s about pure numbers.”
A former School Board chairman, Goodpasture said filling the superintendent’s position is the board’s most important task.
“Excellence of education is something we need to strive for,” Jerry Goodpasture said. “It says a lot about our community and what we value as a community.”
She also questioned last week’s board decision to phase out its academically challenging International Baccalaureate program.
Frank Goodpasture also spoke out against using the Virginia School Boards Association to oversee the search – the organization the board is utilizing.
“I’m not saying they’re bad, but they do have their favorites and you need to be aware of that,” he told the board.
After the meeting, board Chairwoman Virginia Goodson dismissed his concerns.
“I don’t think it’s a problem. It may have been when Mr. Goodpasture was on the board, but I think they’ve [VSBA] been very objective and given us good candidates,” Goodson said.
Through its search, the association has provided applications from seven qualified candidates. In addition, the board plans to advertise the position this week and accept additional applications through mid-January, Goodson said.
Board members, who seemed to listen intently, weren’t dismayed by the low turnout.
“It is a busy time of year, as evidenced by all the cars at the high school and middle school tonight,” Goodson said. “I’m delighted with who came and gave us information. And certainly people can e-mail or contact us.”
Board member Tyrone Foster said he appreciated the input.
“Some good ideas were brought up,” Foster said. “This is my first time in doing it [hiring a superintendent] and this definitely helped.”
dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532
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