Board trustees set April dates for interviews

Churchill County School Board trustees have established two days for interviewing nine candidates to replace Summer Stephens, who resigned earlier this year.

Superintendent Search Consultant Greg McKenzie informed trustees the candidates will be invited to the interviews that are slated for the evening of April 13 beginning at 5 p.m. and April 14 beginning at 1 p.m. The regular school board meeting for the month is April 12.

The weekend before was ruled out due to spring break.

Each trustee has received a list of candidates – six from Nevada, two from California and one from Arizona.

“All are on equal footing but listed in alphabetical order,” he said. “The nine were all recommended by the (selection) group.”

The candidates:

• Christopher Bond is currently superintendent of the Baboquivari Unified School District in Dells, Arizona.

• Blake Cooper is a principal in Yerington for the Lyon County School District.

• James Kuzma is assistant superintendent in region one for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas.

• Brandon Moeller is director of Equity and Diversity for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas.

• Derild Parson is director of Learning and Innovation for the Churchill County School District in Fallon.

• Victor Sherbondy is an elementary principal in the Washoe County School District.

• Scott Sparks is a high school principal in the Bonita Unified School District in San Rimas, Calif.

• Tim Spencer is principal of Churchill County High School in Fallon.

• Patrick Traynor is superintendent of the Lone Pine Unified School District in Lone Pine, Calif.

McKenzie and the trustees agreed three candidates would be interviewed on the first day and six on the second. He suggested an interview session would consist of 50 minutes followed by a 10-minute break between candidates.

“We’ll get most in person,” McKenzie said.

After the last interview, he said trustees should review the candidates and determine who will be selected to replace Stephens.

McKenzie said possible questions for the interview need to be formulated.

Stephens' last day in the school district is June 30. She said in her resignation letter most likely her family will be moving back to their home state of Nebraska where she will pursue new opportunities. Stephens was selected to become superintendent in 2018.

An ad hoc search committee of the Nebraska State Board of Education has identified four finalists in the search for Nebraska’s next Commissioner of Education, one of whom is Stephens.

“The board received a strong slate of applicants and while choosing finalists was not an easy task, we feel very confident in our selections,” said Board President Patti Gubbels. “Each finalist brings a unique perspective and extensive experience that will benefit our state.”

The Nebraska Board of Education plans to hire a new commissioner by the end of the month.