Public chimes in on CISD superintendent search

At least 15 applicants have already applied to be the next superintendent of the Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District, according to information presented a public forum Monday night.

Sixteen people attended the meeting intended to gather public feedback in the school’s search for a new superintendent. The audience included six school employees, one school board member, five parents of kids in school, and two students.

Interim Superintendent John Lemons conducted the meeting and discussed web-based surveys of school employees and the public that are being conducted to gather input on what the district should look for in its next superintendent.

The simple four question survey was criticized for not giving people an opportunity for other comments or to list areas that the districted needed to improve upon. CISD Technology/Network Director Michael Keough then added a “comment” section to the survey, and Lemons invited comments from the audience about areas of improvement.

Audience feedback included concerns about discipline at the school, the amount of homework in the elementary grades, an over emphasis on the Accelerated Reader program, pushing technology over other school needs, and the need for better responsiveness to parents and community members.

Lemons encouraged people to take the survey at www.clarendonisd.net to let the board know their feelings, and school officials said a separate “other comments” survey would be set up for school employees who had already completed the four-question survey.

One school employee said he thought the district should just try to clone outgoing superintendent Monty Hysinger, and one parent countered that Hysinger was “a good money man… and that’s all I’m going to say.”

Lemons bragged on the reputation that Clarendon has for its history of good superintendents – Jeff Walker, Phil Barefield, and Hysinger – as well as its tradition of excellence and good community support. A 30-plus year employee of the district, however, said she had seen parts of the school go down in that time.

Comments were also made from the public encouraging the school to maintain its positive working relationship with Clarendon College and being critical of spending priorities at the school.

Lemons said a new superintendent would want to be visible and open and bring new ideas on discipline. He also said that Clarendon doesn’t need a “change agent” but rather someone who would tweak and maintain the school’s strengths.

Lemons said he knew of 15 to 18 applicants already for the job, which is being advertised statewide and heavily promoted in Regions 16 and 17 (the Panhandle and South Plains). The deadline for applications is December 19, and those will be reviewed by the board on December 29.

The interview process in January will be done in secret, Lemons said, and the district will only be naming a lone finalist for the job.