Published: May 07, 2008 12:40 am            

New school superintendent to be named today

A full agenda awaits Meridian Public School District's new superintendent today.

After an early morning riding tour of the city and local schools, the candidate will meet briefly with Superintendent Sylvia Autry before a gathering with all the principals and district-level administrators.

At noon, a board meeting will be held in the conference room at Central Office to approve the contract, said MPSD Board President Fred Wile. A press conference will immediately follow the meeting to introduce the new superintendent to the media.

The day will culminate with an assembly at 2:45 p.m. in the Meridian High School auditorium, at which time all of the district's faculty will meet the new superintendent, Autry said.

The naming of the local school district's new superintendent brings an end to a search that began last fall. The Center for Education Leadership Search Services was hired by the board to assist.

"They were chosen because they have expertise in the educational field and they have connections in the whole region," Wile said.

Representing the firm were consultants Dr. Richard A. Boyd, former state superintendent of education for Mississippi; Andrew P. Mullins Jr., assistant to the chancellor at The University of Mississippi; and Dr. Capucine Robinson, an assistant superintendent to the Jackson Public School District.

In December, the consulting team met with three groups representing the school district: the Administrative Support Team, the Superintendent's Faculty Council and the Superintendent's Students Advisory Committee. They also conducted a town hall meeting which allowed parents, students and interested residents to voice their concerns, as well as expectations of the superintendent. A little more than 100 attended the one-hour session, which was held in the auditorium of Northwest Junior High School.

The district's new superintendent will begin work on July 1. Autry's contract ends June 30.

        

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