School chief grilling begins

"Carnivorous?"

Clark County School District superintendent candidate Ken Burnley was taken aback during his open-session interview Thursday when School Board member Mary Beth Scow told him, "We're known for being carnivorous."

But he seemed relieved after Scow explained that her comment was about the district's aggressive recruiting tactics for hiring 2,000 teachers a year.

Burnley's comment was probably the most entertaining part of Thursday's rather dry session, which marked the start of a bone-crunching schedule of interviews by the School Board and the Superintendent Selection Process Committee.

Three more hopefuls showcase their abilities during a total of about 10 hours of interviewing today at the United Way conference room, 1660 E. Flamingo Road.

"It's a grueling schedule" said William Attea, the district's hired search consultant. "But that's the way the (search) committee wanted it."

Burnley, superintendent of the Colorado Springs District 11 Schools in Colorado, was interviewed by the School Board. George Garcia, superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District in Arizona, was interviewed by both the School Board and the committee.

The candidates were grilled on a stage-like setting with bright lights, television cameras, reporters and the watchful eyes of the two note-taking panels. During Burnley's session, someone's musical watch kept playing jingles.

The successful candidate, assuming the board chooses one from the current pool of five, will lead the nation's eighth largest school district.

Because a school superintendent is considered a public official, state law requires that the interviews be done in sessions open to the public, said Ruth Johnson, School Board president.

"Sorry about the note-taking," Johnson told the candidates. "We just want to remember everything you said."

Neither candidate was very concerned about the open process.

"I've never done an interview like this before," Garcia said. "But it was fun. I think it went very well."

Burnley said that he has been interviewed by superintendent committees in open sessions in the past.

"It was great," he said afterward.

Johnson questioned whether two hours is enough time to assess the candidates.

"When you really think about all the different issues we have and the depth we need to cover them in, two hours barely does it justice," she said.

After Garcia's interview, Johnson said he appeared very results-oriented.

"He knows what it is he wants and he's going to go after it," she said. "I think this district needs much more of that."

She also gave high marks to Burnley.

"He really articulated well," said Johnson, adding that he also displayed good planning skills and an ability to work well with people.

Speaking of marks, Scow had the candidates' cover letters graded by a district advanced placement English teacher.

Garcia received an A, but Burnley earned a B-minus to a C because of typographical and grammatical errors. Both have doctorate degrees.

Burnley said the errors probably happened because he typed the letter late at night and under time constraints.

Interviews continue through today and Saturday, with the final interviews set for Monday, Nov. 29. All sessions are open to the public.

Attea said he is pleased with the process, so far.

"I think it's going very well," he said.

Here is the remainder of the schedule for the candidates:

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