Superintendent hopeful drops out

One of the candidates participating in the search for superintendent of schools has dropped out of the running.

Allen Steen, superintendent of schools in Hinton, Iowa, quit for personal reasons that had nothing to do with the district, according to Douglas County school board member Sharla Hales.

David R. Freeman, superintendent of the Placerville Union School District, is considered in Steen's stead as the fifth candidate to run for Douglas County superintendent of schools.

School trustees will meet today to confirm that Freeman can replace Steen in the superintendent search. He was considered as an alternate at the board's special meeting Dec. 16.

Freeman has been superintendent in his district since 2001 and lives in Rescue, Calif. He has been a chemistry and physical science teacher, football and wrestling coach, director of special education and was a vice principal or principal for 22 years.

Freeman was described during the superintendent search as having extensive experience as a K-8 principal and as someone who has developed leadership qualities in people who have worked with him.

"My greatest strength is my ability to develop a trusting relationship with all parties: parents, teachers, students, staff, community and school board members," said Freeman.

The other candidates who will be included in interviews for superintendent:

n Dr. Debra Bradley, consultant for the California Department of Education in Los Angeles.

n Mark Coleman, principal of Silverado High School in Las Vegas.

n Carol Lark, assistant superintendent of the Southeast Region of Clark County School District in Las Vegas.

n Rod Kessler, superintendent of Johnson County School District No. 1 in Buffalo, Wyo.

A new superintendent will start work after John Soderman retires from the position June 30.

The public has a chance to meet the five candidates during the interviews Tuesday through Thursday.

If Freeman is confirmed at today's meeting as the replacement for Steen, his interview will be Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Douglas High School's media center.

The interviews for candidates Coleman and Kessler will begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday in the media center and the interviews for Bradley and Lark will be Thursday at 4 p.m., also in the media center.

The school board meets 5 p.m. Jan. 20 to discuss which of the candidates will continue in the superintendent selection process. The goal is to announce a new superintendent in the school board's regular meeting Feb. 14.

The candidates will start the respective days of their interviews at 8 a.m. in the school district office speaking with school principals.

At 10 a.m., they visit with students at Douglas High School. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the candidates will have lunch and do a tour of the district.

This is a chance to let the candidates see what there is to offer in Carson Valley and at Lake Tahoe.

School district employees have a chance to meet with the superintendent hopefuls between 2 and 4 p.m. at the district office. Then they'll go back to Douglas High School for their individual interviews.

For more information, call the district office at 782-5134.