MEMPHIS, Tenn. — At least, now we know a timeline for the selection of the next superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools and the key word for everyone interested in the process is patience.
School leaders are being methodical by seeking community input – and putting together a diverse search committee to help get the job done. But the search won’t formally begin until February – following a series of meetings with various groups – including students.
A search firm will do its work between February and April. The list of candidates will be narrowed to three finalists sometime in May – and interviews will be conducted in June – leading to a final selection in July. The next superintendent is expected to be on the job for the start of classes next August. That is, unless there are delays and setbacks and you can probably expect a few of those.
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Still, you have to give the school board credit for trying to be transparent, something it did not achieve during an investigation of former superintendent Joris Ray – who resigned earlier this year. Of course, there will be naysayers who will criticize the process and the timeline. But the search committee represents an impressive group of community leaders. Let’s hope they can stick to the plan – and get the selection of the next school leader done with as less rancor as possible then get back to the business of educating students.