JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENT

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Education could select a new superintendent during a special meeting tonight.

Board President Jack Knowlan Jr. said the board will consider two viable candidates for superintendent during a closed meeting. He would not name the finalists.

The district received 20 candidate applications for the job being vacated by Dr. Howard Jones, who announced his resignation in October. He will resign at the end of June.

The board contracted with the Missouri School Boards Association for assistance with its application and selection process.

"We've really got a couple of options right now," said Knowlan. "We may be in a position to make a decision tonight, I'm not sure."

Board members narrowed the applicant pool to six and interviewed five candidates in December. Several candidates withdrew themselves from consideration in January, and board members later selected finalists from the remaining candidate.

They have spent the past week checking references and visiting the finalists in their school districts.

Jones said he hopes his replacement will be selected soon so that long-range plans for the district can be developed.

"We're beginning to prepare for long-range planning, and I wouldn't want to work on these types of plans without that person's input," he said.

While hesitant to predict the outcome of tonight's meeting, Knowlan said he felt confident an announcement would be made no later than early next week.

"We're pretty close, but we'll still have to begin negotiations for a contract and hope that individual accepts it," he said.

Jackson Board of Education

Agenda, Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, 7 p.m.

Jackson Board of Education Office, 614 E. Adams

Action Items:

-- Consider adjourning to executive session of purpose of considering applicants for position of superintendent of schools. Authority is Section 610.021, Para. 3, Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended.