JACKSONVILLE Fla. -- The lengthy list of 30 superintendent candidates has been cut down for Duval County Public Schools. After a day of deliberation, five finalists have been chosen by the school board to still be considered for the position.
"I think we have the next superintendent right in this group," said School Board President Betty Burney.
But the process wasn't without hiccups. A search firm recommended five candidates as their top picks, none of them were local applicants. Some members of the board argued that Duval's Chief Academic Officer Karen LeRoy should be included.
"I think Mrs. LeRoy understands not just the complexity of our district but our strengths so that we don't have to worry about someone trying to reinvent the wheel or eliminate progress when we're moving forward," said District 4 board member, Paula Wright.
Others said the district needs a fresh start.
"That's what tended to be one of the themes that we heard was the wanting of someone outside the district," said District 6 Board Member, Becki Couch.
Ultimately, LeRoy was added to the board's final five. Also included, Kriner Cash, a Memphis superintendent. William Miller, who served as an executive director for schools in Michigan. Dale Robbins, an associate superintendent from Clayton County Georgia and Nikolai Vitti, assistant superintendent of curriculum for Miami-Dade County.
The five finalists will all gather to have one on one meetings with each board member on August 27th.
