Two candidates are now vying for the role of the Ketchikan School District Superintendent. Three people applied for the position. The Ketchikan School Board advanced two of them after a three-hour, closed-door session during their regular meeting Wednesday night.
The candidates are local principal Scott Huff, who leads the Tongass School of Arts and Sciences, and Don McPherson, an education consultant from Alabama.
Katie Oliver directs the Association of Alaska School Boards. She explained the hiring process to board members during the meeting. Oliver said the next step is for Huff and McPherson to be invited to two days of tours, interviews with the board, and public forums. She said those include meetings with school staff and Ketchikan residents.
“We would ask folks what the priorities are that they want to hear the candidates talk about in the forums, and they would have an opportunity to submit a question. I highly suspect that all of the questions that we have, that we develop, will come from your community and your staff. Since the community and staff are engaged in your process, that’s great. That’s what we want. So I don’t anticipate any problem getting great questions from both groups,” Oliver explained.
School board members also expressed interest in the candidates meeting with other groups like tribal leaders, members of the local Filipino community, city, borough, and Saxman officials, industry leaders, teachers’ union officials, and local medical personnel.
Those events are tentatively set for the end of May. After that, school board members can choose the next superintendent. Current Superintendent Michael Robbins announced his resignation earlier this spring. His last day is June 30. Oliver recommended that the two candidates meet with outgoing superintendent Robbins while they’re both in town.
