The Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees is expected to announce their selection for a new superintendent of schools Friday. The board was hearing final interviews and voting during The Dispatch’s deadline Friday.
Thursday night, more than 200 community members had their first look at the three finalists for the CMSD superintendent position at a special meeting.
Otha Belcher, an assistant superintendent with Jackson Public Schools; Lois Kappler, a former Joe Cook principal who is a project manager with the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit; and Cherie Labat, assistant superintendent with Bay-Waveland School District, all gave ten-minute presentations to the community about how they would impact the school district if appointed superintendent.
Each candidate’s presentation included plans to improve staff and student morale, how to raise student achievement and how to build relationships with parents, stakeholders, local industry and higher education. After the three finalists presented their individual cases, they answered questions during an hour-long question and answer forum. Audience members asked about community involvement, initial steps and policies within the district, reasons for leaving current positions, strategies for increasing state accountability scores and responsibilities and initiatives with the special education department.
After the two-hour meeting, audience members voted for the candidate they felt best suited CMSD. Members of the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce Education Committee collected and immediately sealed the votes. CMSD school board members will see the votes Friday before choosing the new superintendent.
CMSD school board president Jason Spears said the votes from the public will play a “strong consideration” in the board’s decision.
“(The candidates) all have different characteristics and different strengths,” Spears said after the meeting. “But certainly I believe that all of them are equipped to come in and do a great job at Columbus Municipal School District in helping us to start achieving and moving to levels that we haven’t been at in a very long time.”
The board will hold final 20-minute interviews with each candidate at Friday’s meeting before choosing a final candidate, Spears said.
Whomever the board chooses will replace Philip Hickman, who was fired in February after less than four years with the district. In November, the board elected not to renew Hickman’s contract beyond its June 30 expiration and opened the search for a new superintendent.
Deputy Superintendent Craig Shannon has been serving as interim superintendent during the search.
Spears said the board will announce the new superintendent shortly after noon Friday. The Dispatch will update online as the story develops.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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