Published: March 20, 2009 09:03 am      

Deadline nears for MVTHS applicants

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The deadline for applications for the job of superintendent at Mt. Vernon Township High School is one week from today.

“We want someone who has already had experience in a superintendent’s position, and if possible, one who has a very good grasp of school finance,” MVTHS Board President Dan Hoffman said. “We want someone who has had experience with ethnic diversity, which we have on our campus with our demographics, and one who is good at adapting to change and can help spearhead programs such as the Freshman Academy.”

Hoffman said the board filled out a survey comprised of what attributes it is seeking for the position, which was then sent to Consulting and Resource Group. Applications are currently being pre-screened by the group, and on April 1, board members will meet with the company to discuss potential candidates in a closed special board session.

During that meeting, Hoffman said the board will list candidates in rank order and will fill slots to interview two candidates April 3, and at least three on April 4. Each interview will last up to two hours.

“At this time we will hopefully determine who will be invited back for a second interview during the middle of the next week,” Hoffman said. “Then, if we find we have a candidate to make an offer to, and they accept it, we will work out terms and they will be ratified at the April board meeting.”

If the board does not pursue hiring a candidate from the initial round of applicants, an interim superintendent will fill the position until a superintendent is hired. Though the board does not know who the applicants are yet, Hoffman said during the past two hiring processes he has been involved with for the superintendent position, the board found candidates to make offers to each time during the initial round.

Current MVTHS Sup-erintendent Terry Milt will remain at the school through the month of June, and has been hired as district superintendent of Dupo Unit District 196 effective on July 1.