The Fayette County School Board could decide who will lead the district on an interim basis as early as tonight but they won’t be rushing to name a permanent Superintendent.
When Dr. Tom Shelton leaves Fayette County Schools to take a position with the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, School Board members are likely to have someone ready to step in temporarily. It’s a decision they have to make quickly since Shelton’s last day at work will be next Friday. Board member Daryl Love tells us, that won’t be the case when a permanent replacement is chosen. “This is not something we’re going to rush to judgment on. If we don’t’ see a candidate pooled who meets the criteria that’s been defined by what we view as a board by what’s been defined as a community. And when you think about all the priorities that have been put on the list of things that we’ve got to do going forward, that’s going to be one of the major things that we’re going to look at. Who is going to be able to take that bucket of work and move our district forward.”
Love and other board members say they will put closing Fayette County’s student achievement gap at the top of the list of priorities for the incoming superintendent. A list of 10 recommendations to begin that process was presented earlier this month by the Equity Council and has been approved.