| Updated: 5/03/2011 10:27 pm |
Published: 5/03/2011 9:21 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Citing a miscommunication, the Little Rock School Board has added back Dr. Irving Hamer into their pool of superintendent candidates.
Hamer, the Memphis Schools Deputy Superintendent, was bumped last week because the board felt he was not interested in the job enough. However, board members say it turns out the message that Hamer wanted to take an interview here failed to make it from the consulting firm to the Little Rock School Board in a timely fashion.
“Our understanding now is that he had accepted an interview date,” said board member Jody Carreiro. “Evidently the breakdown was between us and the consultants.”
The superintendent candidate pool stands at four. Hamer is joined by Hugh Hattabaugh, the COO of Charlotte-Mecklenburgh in North Carolina, Dr. Walter Milton, Superintendent of Springfield, Illinois Schools, and Dr. June Rimmer, Program Director of an education foundation in California.
Hatabaugh is no stranger to LRSD. He used to be the Deputy Superintendent here under Roy Brooks. Board member Katherine Mitchell worked with him while he was here and does not think he is the right fit.
“I just think it was too much confusion going on during the administration with him and Roy Brooks,” says Mitchell. “He lacks the kind of experience I personally feel a superintendent would need.”
Interviews will take place over a four day period next week. “I personally didn’t want to interview four people, I don’t think it’s a great dynamic for us, but this is an attempt to do the right thing all away across,” said Carreiro.
Carreiro is hopeful the process will bring out the best candidate. “We’re going to have, to the best of our ability, an even process for all four days for all four candidates.
The board is hopeful that they will be able to name a new superintendent by May 16th.
