One applicant within the Kennett School District has expressed interest in filling Superintendent position, deadline to respond is November 13

Thursday, November 5, 2009
George Anderson

Matthew R. Shetley

During a closed session meeting of the Kennett Board of Education on Wednesday, Oct. 28, it was announced that the board would start accepting letters of interest from applicants seeking to fill the position of superintendent from within the district, following the resignation of current Superintendent Jerry Noble at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

Board President Matthew R. Shetley said the board chose to look within the district first because 'it feels there are staff members who are "very qualified" for the position that currently work in the district.'

"There is no one within the district that has the experience as a superintendent," Shetley said. "However, there are those who have been in the administration for several years."

Shetley said the primary qualification the district is looking for is leadership skills.

According to Board Secretary Donna Haman, as of press time today, Thursday, Nov. 5, only one letter of interest has been submitted by an inside applicant for the position. Superintendent Noble confirmed this information, adding that the letter received was submitted by current Kennett Middle School Principal, Ward H. Billings.

The board will continue to accept letters of interest from within the district until 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 13. Interviews will then be scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Kennett Board of Education meeting.

According to Shetley, following the interview process on Tuesday, Nov. 17, the board will discuss what to do next, whether it be filling the position from the applicants, or seeking applications from outside the district.

Noble officially announced his pending resignation during the executive session portion of the Tuesday, Oct. 20, board meeting.

The current superintendent said he has enjoyed his five years with the Kennett School District, adding that 'it has been both challenging and rewarding.'

The Daily Dunklin Democrat will continue to follow this story as it develops.

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Mr. Billings would be a GREAT superintendent! He has been devoted and a hard worker for Kennett and it's district for many years. He has a good history of being a positive leader, considerate, and a good person all around. I believe it would do Kennett's School District an 'injustice' if he did not get an opportunity to show Kennett how well he can lead us into bigger and better things. Mr. Noble has done a good job during his time here. There should be no hard feelings between anyone for his wanting to do other things. Good luck and may God Bless you, Mr. Noble, in whatever you should choose to do next.

-- Posted by MsKay on Fri, Nov 6, 2009, at 11:11 AM