By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-971293.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas School Board expects to name an "interim" superintendent in the next few days. KERA's BJ Austin says Board members have a short list of names, but are not making them public.
School Board President Dr. Lew Blackburn says trustees cut a list of 10 names down to four or five. The Board will discuss them - and perhaps some new names - at a meeting Friday.
Blackburn: Take another look of those that we've narrowed it down. Get a closer look at them and possibly make a decision Friday. If not Friday, the for sure on Monday.
A group of African American Community leaders want the Board to name former Superintendent Nolan Estes. Thomas Muhammad says Nolan Estes, who served from 1968 to 78, is the right man for this job.
Muhammad: He has the experience. He has the sense of fairness and fair play. He has vision. And he's agreed this is something he'd like to pursue.
Board President Blackburn says, as of Tuesday afternoon, trustees had not been officially notified of that. Board members declined to "name names" on the list of candidates to lead the district when Superintendent Michael Hinojosa leaves to take the top job in the Cobb County, Georgia School District. Board member Carla Ranger believes they should.
Ranger: Whatever we do, the process should be open; should be transparent; and one that the public is fully privy to.
Rena Honea, with the teacher group Alliance AFT was hoping to hear some interim candidate names. She says the person could be leading the district for quite some time while the search is on for a permanent superintendent.
Honea: I don't think there's a huge pool of candidates to draw from for a large urban district that has had problems over the past few years.
Dr. Blackburn expects the Board will find an interim leader for the district, but will hire a search firm to help find the next Dallas School Superintendent.