ORAN TEACHERS HELPING TO PICK NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

ORAN -- Teachers in the Oran School District consider it an honor to help select their next school superintendent.

The district is seeking a replacement for Jack McIntosh, superintendent for the last six years. He has accepted the superintendency at East Prairie starting in July.

Three high-school and three elementary teachers, one school cook and McIntosh are serving on a screening committee to select four candidates who will be interviewed by the school board.

Fifteen applications had been received. The school board decided to consider the eight applicants currently working in Missouri. All have served as principals and three as superintendents.

On a 4-2 vote, with one abstention, the school board also decided to waive the requirement that the superintendent reside in the district.

Board President Tom Urhahn said board members understand it is difficult to pick up stakes and move to a new community. He said the new policy gives preference to candidates who will live in the district.

This policy change has allowed elementary principal Tom Anderson, who lives in Scott City where he is a school board member, to apply for the superintendent's position. Anderson, 48, a 1965 graduate of Oran High School, said he appreciates being able to apply for the position.

Anderson said he has enjoyed the last two years as elementary principal. He plans to stay at Oran until his retirement, either as a principal or as superintendent. He has taught in the classroom for 14 years and been an administrator for 12 years.

Each of the screening committee members have been given the resume and information from one applicant. The committee members have been calling references and others in the applicants' communities.

Lana Arnzen of rural Scott City, who has taught fifth or sixth grade at Oran for the last 13 years, said several committee members gathered Monday to share notes on weekend phone calls. "We talked about what kind of questions we're asking, the kind of people we're talking to and whether the responses seemed open," Arnzen said.

"The people I've talked to can't believe that the teachers here are involved in the selection process," Arnzen said. "They've been impressed."

Oran teachers normally have a chance to provide input into decisions, Arnzen said.

"I have a vested interest in making a good selection," Arnzen said. "It's nice that someone thinks my opinion matters."

Arnzen likes having a school cook on the screening committee. She said the screening process is one example of how the entire staff works together.

Brenda Seabaugh, home economics teacher for the last 12 years and a 1958 graduate of Oran High School, said it makes sense to have the teachers involved since they have been in the district longer than the administrators.

She likes the staff members having a voice in selecting the school leadership because more people are involved. She said it's a compliment to know that their opinions count.

Seabaugh said committee members are trying to find out why applicants are interested in coming to Oran and why they want to leave their present jobs. She likes to hear both positive and negative points on a candidate so she knows she is getting a balanced opinion.

McIntosh hopes the screening committee will select the four candidates by the end of the week. He would like to set up interviews early next week and have the board select a superintendent by the end of the week. McIntosh said it is becoming critical to hire someone soon.

He said the expected salary range will be $45,000 to $48,000 per year.