A list of 21 applicants for the superintendent's job at Blytheville Public Schools was narrowed to seven, then to four, Thursday evening during a special meeting of the school board.
Only one person now employed by the district applied for the position. Richard Atwill, principal at Blytheville Middle School, was one of seven recommended candidates to the board by consultants and one of the four chosen by the board for an interview.
The person selected will assume the job held for many years by Dr. Bruce Daniels. Daniels announced last fall that he is retiring at the end of this school year.
The board voted previously to hire consultants from McPherson and Jacobson, a recruitment and development firm. The consultants, Dr. Tony Prothro and Steve Singleton, screened the applicants and brought their top choices to the board for consideration.
The seven applicants brought to the board Thursday were: Atwill, Marvin Burton, principal at Little Rock School District; Arthur Tucker, assistant superintendent at Texarkana Public Schools; Jerry Noble, superintendent of Kennett, Mo., Public Schools; Dr. Harvey A. Franklin Sr., assistant superintendent of Walton County Schools, Ga.; Dr. Larie Godinez. assistant superintendent for the Plainfield School District, Ill.; and Steve Kelley, assistant superintendent for Lebanon Community Schools in Ore.
Burton, Noble and Tucker will also be interviewed for the position along with Atwill, the board voted.
During Thursday's meeting Prothro and Singleton presented their findings on each of the seven finalists to the board.
The screening process by the consultants included thorough reference checks by Prothro and Singleton. Information discovered about each applicant was shared with the board during their presentation.
Comments about the four finalists included their educational backgrounds, employment history and applicable information about the applicants' qualifications for the position as set forth by the school board and patrons of the districts.
Applicants were evaluated based on five criteria including financial background and ability, skills needed to form positive relationships in the district, community involvement, leadership skills and knowledge of technology and an open and honest communications style.
Prothro told the board that this application process was an unusual one.
"Usually we only have two or three rise to the top of the heap and we have to struggle to find a fourth or fifth to interview," he said. "This process was just the opposite. We had trouble weeding them out because they were all so good."
He added that the number and quality of the applicants speaks highly of the district. "We've never had this many people of integrity apply for a position. It says a lot about the district."
After an executive session, the board voted unanimously to interview the four applicants.
Noble will be interviewed on Feb. 23, Burton on Feb. 24, Atwill on Feb. 26 and Tucker on Feb. 27.
The candidates will be interviewed by several groups, including a chosen group of students, a group of teachers and administrators and a group of school staff members in addition to the school board's official interview.
The candidates and their spouses will spend the entire day in the district, attending interviews and events scheduled, including a tour of the district and the city.
Because of the interviews, the board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the administration building.1