School Board Plans for New Director Search

by Kevin Cummings, Messenger Staff Writer

The Franklin County Board of Education will use an outside agency to help find a new director of schools. 

At its meeting on Sept. 15 in Winchester, the board voted unanimously to hire the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA) to conduct the search, which will cost $5,000. Rebecca Sharber, the current director, is retiring effective June 30, 2015.

The TSBA will narrow the field to a handful of candidates before the board begins the interview process.

Sewanee resident Adam Tucker, who participated in his first board meeting as the new representative of District 5, said he is pleased with the decision. 

“Not only do I believe that the board will need services like those offered by TSBA, I believe the decision to engage the TSBA was a fiscally responsible one that will yield significant returns for the district without the costs associated with a national search firm,” he said on Tuesday.

The TSBA also conducted the search that led to Sharber’s hiring.

“They look for someone who is the best for what your people want,” said school board member Cleijo Walker. “It’s important that we individually and as a board come up with the qualities and traits that are important and then work with them.”

Several board members said they wanted to make sure the TSBA considers candidates from Franklin County for the position.

“On the campaign trail I heard it said more than once that there are qualified people in the county. I think they were saying that you need to take a strong look at who’s in the county,” said Gary Hanger, the new District 7 representative.

Board chairman Kevin Caroland said the board will retain the right to add candidates to the TSBA’s final list.

Board representative Chris Guess said the stipulation is critical.

“I get some of that from my district, people saying this is (the board’s) job,” he said. “…You have to be careful to make sure it doesn’t look like you’re passing the buck.”