School committee near full

By Staff
Group to select superintendent includes mayor, judge, principal
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
The Hartselle Board of Education will meet April 6 for a work session to finalize plans to implement a 10-member committee that will help select Hartselle's next school superintendent.
Dr. Lee Hartsell plans to retire as superintendent March 1, 2005-a position he has held for 20 years.
Accumulated leave and vacation time will allow Hartsell to stay on the school system's payroll through July 1, 2005. His annual salary is $113,400.
Hartselle Mayor Clif Knight, Circuit Judge Glenn Thompson, Johnny Howell, Barkley Bridge Principal Susan Hayes, Hartselle Junior High Principal Frank Parker and teachers Robin Hodges, Rose Stansberry, and Suzanne Blackman have accepted appointments to the selection committee.
Board Chairman Ronnie Abercrombie, who proposed the formation of the committee and recommended candidates, said a local representative of the clergy and another community representative are expected to accept appointments this week.
The committee will help screen applicants and narrow the list of top candidates for superintendent.
Abercrombie said once plans have been finalized at the work session, the committee process will be voted on at the regular board meeting April 15. If approved, the board will then begin accepting applications for superintendent.
The board hopes to have the new superintendent in place by Jan. 1 and working alongside Hartsell until his March 1 retirement.
"The idea behind the formation of this committee is to involve the community and make people feel good about the selection process," Abercrombie said. "We've been blessed to have Dr. Hartsell here for 20 years. The more involved the community is in selecting a new superintendent, the smoother this transition will be."