CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The head of the West Virginia Education Association said he’s surprised by how secretive the state Board of Education is being about the hiring of a new superintendent of schools.
“No one knows who the finalists are. We don’t know background. You’d think we’d have some indication of the people who are in the final running,” WVEA President Dale Lee said Wednesday. “That (the board) would want to let us know what is in store for us in West Virginia.”
On Tuesday, the board announced Deputy Superintendent Chuck Heinline would be filling in as superintendent on a temporary basis after current Superintendent Dr. Jim Phares retires June 30.
The board interviewed several candidates for the job Tuesday. However, there’s been no announcement that someone has been hired. Lee found that a bit odd.
“Everybody thought the decision would be made by June 30. Although I do think Chuck Heinline will do a great job in the interim,” according to Lee.
This won’t be Heinline’s first time in the role of temporary superintendent. He filled in back in 2012 after Dr. Jorea Marple was fired from the position and before Phares took the job.
Lee said while he understands some candidates may not want their names out there because they don’t want their employers to know about their job search, he said, the search shouldn’t be shrouded in mystery.
He wants to see someone hired on a full-time basis as quickly as possible.
“We need to have a direction for us to go educationally and get that continuity and get things rolling,” according to Lee.
In a news release from the state Board of Education, the board stated progress has been made in their search for a superintendent. When a decision is made, the board said it will share that with the public. No timeline was given.