Meetings planned seeking public input in superintendent search

MADISON – The next step in finding a new superintendent for Madison City Schools will be a series of public meetings this week to gain residents’ input in finding a replacement for Robby Parker, who retired on Friday.

“Assistant Superintendent Eric Terrell will take the helm until a permanent replacement is named,” said MCS board president Renae Bartlett. “We will not skip a beat. Mr. Terrell has been in every important meeting that Mr. Parker has been a part of, and he is well-regarded by our staff, our teachers and our students.”

The school board has set March 23 as the application deadline for superintendent candidates. The field of applicants will be narrowed by April 7, finalists announced April 9, and interviews conducted April 20-22 and April 28 if needed. A permanent superintendent is expected to be named by April 30.

School board attorney Woody Sanderson is assisting the board in the search for a new superintendent. He will review the applications and recommend a narrowed down list of candidates for the school board members to interview.

The first of the public meetings will be held Tuesday, 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Columbia Elementary School, 667 Balch Road. It will be held in the school’s cafeteria.

The second will be held Wednesday night, March 4, at Triana Town Hall. It starts at 6 p.m.

The final meeting will be held March 5, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., as a brown bag lunch meeting at the Madison Public Library, 130 Plaza Blvd.

The public is invited to attend and provide input at all of the meetings.