Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

February 21, 2008 issue

New Watauga County Schools Superintendent To Be Announced April 14

Story by Kathleen McFadden

Last fall, Watauga County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bobbie Short, announced her intention to retire at the end of the 2007-08 school year, and the The Watauga County Board of Education began its search for a new superintendent on January 10.

According to Board of Education Chair Lowell Younce, the board advertised the position widely—in all the state’s major newspapers, in local newspapers, on the Watauga County Schools website and through the North Carolina School Boards Association.

The application deadline was last Friday, February 15. Jennifer Combs, Short’s administrative assistant, is handling the applications, and, according to Younce, “is keeping them under lock and key.” Younce said the board has not yet reviewed any of the applications and does not know who has applied for the position, but said Combs has indicated that she has received several applications.

According to Younce, the board will review applications through February 29, will interview candidates from March 3 through April 1 and will announce the new superintendent on April 14.

The Board of Education plans to make the selection. According to Younce, the state school board manual gives school boards sole discretion for hiring superintendents. He said that the board has received inquiries about why principals and parents are not involved in the process, but said, “We found this approach worked well five years ago [when the board hired Short], and we checked with neighboring counties and found that their boards do it themselves [without additional input].”