By Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
February 3, 2020
Curious observers trying to follow what’s going on in West Virginia’s most-populous school system are asking: What happened to the superintendent search?
In the span of just over two weeks, the Kanawha County Board of Education accepted the retirement of its longtime superintendent, held a meeting to discuss a search to find his replacement, then abandoned the search and appointed the deputy superintendent to the position.
The board’s actions raise several questions, including:
How did three of the five school board members end up voting last week
- to simply promote Deputy Superintendent Tom Williams?
- Why was the public not given an opportunity to voice their comments or concerns?
- How did this occur when Williams’ name was never publicly mentioned as a candidate during this time?
- And why was there a rush to make a decision, when current Superintendent Ron Duerring’s retirement isn’t effective until June 30?