A combination of local and out-of-town candidates have applied for the deputy superintendent position in the Buffalo Public School District. WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says the interim schools superintendent is working on the hiring process before he leaves at the end of this school year.
"The deputy search becomes very important and the whole board must agree on the direction the beyond that," said Donald Ogilvie, interim schools superintendent.
Ogilvie is targeting April 29 as a date to deliver his recommendations to the school board on his selection for a new deputy superintendent.
"We do not want the search for superintendent to be limited to those individuals who have applied to be the deputy," said Barbara Seals Nevergold, Minority School Board member.
"The intent that I have, and I think the board is really is focused on making this as comfortable and is purposeful as we possibly can,' stated Ogilvie.
There has been much talk that the deputy superintendent could be someone who might end up as the superintendent when Ogilive leaves.
"We do not want the search for superintendent to be limited to those individuals who have applied to be the deputy," said Minority School Board member Barbara Seals Nevergold.
Seals Nevergold has been calling on the board to make sure it conducts a full, nationwide search when it selects a new superintendent.
"The skills are different that are being required for the superintendent, and we're not going to find that in this deputy person," said Seals Nevergold. "I believe that if the community speaks up and voices their concerns, that the board majority will listen."
Ogilive noted the district has received inquires from 13 individuals. Eleven already completed the application. Eight are out-of-towners and three are local.
Ogilive said thee first phase of screening is underway.
