Former superintendent Bob Smallridge could temporarily lead the Oak Ridge school system starting in January.
On Wednesday, Oak Ridge Board of Education Chairman Keys Fillauer said he will recommend hiring Smallridge during a Jan. 7 meeting.
Tom Bailey, the current superintendent, is retiring at the end of the year, and the board hasn’t hired a replacement yet.
“We felt like we needed someone driving the ship,” Fillauer said of his proposal to recommend hiring Smallridge as interim superintendent until Bailey’s replacement is hired and starts working in Oak Ridge.
Fillauer said the three remaining finalists—Neyland Clark, Roger Collins, and Dan Lawson—all have different potential start dates.
The school system could briefly be without a superintendent, Fillauer said. But in the meantime, Oak Ridge Assistant Superintendent Marian Phillips will “guide the boat.”
Collins, one of the superintendent candidates, will be in Oak Ridge from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce for a “meet and greet” with local leaders. Collins is superintendent of Nelson County Public Schools in Lovingston, Va.
Clark, who is superintendent of South Harrison Community Schools in Corydon, Ind., and Lawson, superintendent of Tullahoma City Schools in Tullahoma, Tenn., could visit Oak Ridge later.
Fillauer said the school board is trying to find a superintendent that fits Oak Ridge and not be concerned about the time needed to hire the right person.
He said Smallridge has served as interim superintendent in Campbell County and Clinton city schools and was last superintendent in Oak Ridge about 14 years ago.
Bailey has been Oak Ridge superintendent since 2002.
Sam Hopwood says
Hooray!!!! It’s back to the future!!! Smallridge led us to be a “top 100 hundred in the nation school system” and then the roof fell in when he left. If anyone can repair morale among the staff it will be Smallridge. Come on 12/31/12!!!
Bill Blakewood says
What is going to occur on 12/31/12?
Sam Hopwood says
It is “tornado Tom’s” last day as OR school super.
Bill Blakewood says
You must not have too much going on if that’s your foremost anticipation. I mistakenly thought you were implying that you had inside information on an announcement of the next superintendent. By the way, Dr. Bailey has already left the building, so to speak, and that fact makes your anticipation of 12/31/12 pointless.
Your perspective that the “roof fell in” on the OR school system is an unsubstantiated opinion that few share outside the usual collection of grumblers and haters. On the other hand, your sentiments on the preferred nature of change in Oak Ridge is much like that of many elderly Oak Ridgers: the only change they want to see is change back to the way things used to be (in the ’50s and ’60s).
Sam Hopwood says
Sorry you do not like for others to express their opinions. That’s your choice.
Ellen Smith says
Glad to know that Bob Smallridge is once again willing to help out when he is needed. Thanks!