Two of three BCS candidates respond to questionnaire

To our readers:

As soon as the identities of the three finalists for the position of superintendent of the Bogalusa City Schools were announced, wpnewsblog developed a 10-item questionnaire and sent it to the business address of each finalist on Tuesday, June 13. There was a deadline for response included.

As the schedule and interview process for each of the candidates was announced, the decision was made to change the response time until after all three interviews were concluded. This was confirmed by telephone with Lionel Jackson and Dr. Daniel Slack and by email with Louise Smith.

Following the completion of the interviews, the three candidates were asked at 9:30 Thursday morning to submit their responses in time for a Saturday publication. In that email, candidates were advised: The plan for publication is write a brief intro and then list the questions, 1-10. I will cut and paste responses in alphabetical order, so they will be listed as LJ (Jackson), DS (Slack) and LS (Smith).

“If you choose not to respond, that is your prerogative ... however, a "No response" will be listed by your name under each question.”

Both Dr. Slack, who drove to Bogalusa from Missouri in order to drive the community and was on his way home, and Mrs. Smith responded. Mr. Jackson did not.

There has been no editing of responses. They were cut and pasted into the space following the question and, as promised to the candidates, are listed in alphabetical order.

                                                                                                                                                        John H. Walker                                                                                                                                              Editor/Publisher

(Decision Facing BCS Board Might Not Be So Hard, see OPINION)

Introduce yourself to the community, as you would at a first-time public appearance:

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – Dear Students, Parents, Faculty, Staff, and Patrons of the Bogalusa City Schools:

         As a finalist for the Position of Superintendent of the              Bogalusa City Schools, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for recognizing the qualities that I possess through the accumulation of my personal education and experiences as a public school educator.  As I research the Bogalusa City School District, I continue to recognize the qualities that define your identity, and it is my honor to be invited for consideration to a very important decision affecting your students.

With that said, I have served in public education as a High School Math and Science Teacher (10 years), High School Counselor (3 years), University Graduate Assistant (2 years), High School Principal (2 years), and as a District Superintendent (9 years) for a total of 26 years of service.  I earned my B.S.E. at Central Michigan University, my M.S. at Missouri State University, my Ed.S. at Missouri State University, and my Doctorate at NOVA Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

In conclusion, I have been involved in some form of education (Either as a student or Educator) for the entirety of my life.  I believe that everyone is a life-long learner, and that concept also applies to myself.  Education is my passion, and that passion created who I have become over time.  My wife is currently a professional working in Behavioral Health and we both look forward in relocating to Bogalusa, Louisiana.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Slack, Ed.D.

    LS – I am Louise Smith - wife, mother, grandmother and educator.  All of these roles are important to me.  I am here today to talk about my role as an educator.  Education is the reason I am a responsible, productive person in our society.  I grew up under adverse conditions.  Educators instilled in me the desire to learn and work hard to achieve my potential and dreams.  I often wonder where I would be without powerful teachers who provided caring relationships, high expectations and opportunities to participate and contribute to the school and community.  I grew up knowing I would give back – I had to help other children find the hope and resilience they needed to succeed in life.  I have an undergraduate degree in social work, a master’s degree in education and a specialist’s degree in administration.  I have completed all work for the doctorate degree in education with the exception of a dissertation.  I love learning and I love watching our children grow and learn.

Why do you want to become superintendent of schools in Bogalusa?

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – First, if you look at the various methods that districts use to search for their Superintendents, I feel that districts that consult with a national search firm, as did Bogalusa City Schools, communicates a particular message about the District.  In addition, if you look at the educational and career backgrounds of Superintendents from such districts, you find a pattern.  Superintendents from such districts have educational backgrounds that are diverse and rarely isolated to one University.  In addition, they also have career experiences that are diverse, and not isolated to any one school district or position.  The message that The Bogalusa City School District telegraphed matched my philosophy relative to the type of organization that I would like to lead.  They are willing to be progressive and diverse in their search, and I have a diverse background.

In my opinion, the Bogalusa City School District is a great district, but great is never good enough.  No matter how good I get at doing what it is I do, I am always looking for methods that will assist me in doing better.  The search for improvement is never ending, dynamic and infinite, and we are never at the end of that search.  Districts, no matter how great also share this same characteristic, and this is the match that I previously alluded to.  This infinite search for improvement can be nurtured through the management style that I utilize which will become apparent with time.

If you review my career, every career move that I was able to make was promotional in nature, and my move to Bogalusa City Schools would also be very much promotional in nature.  The fact that I feel an admiration for this geographic area of the country is a bonus to the position.

LS – Becoming a school superintendent is one of my lifelong goals.  Bogalusa is just across the river from Poplarville.  Our demographics are similar.   I have made many trips to Bogalusa over the years to enjoy two of my favorite past times - eating and shopping.   I will use the skills, knowledge and insight from my diverse work experiences in education to turn the challenges of the Bogalusa school district into learning opportunities for students.  I firmly believe healthy schools build healthy communities.  I have been  successful in every education position I have held which includes: classroom teacher, principal, athletic director, federal programs coordinator, grant writer, loss control coordinator, sixteenth section land manager, staff development coordinator, test coordinator, technology coordinator, safe and drug free schools coordinator and alternative school principal. I will be a successful school superintendent and I look forward to working with students, families, educators and community members to build capacity and unlock the leadership potential in Bogalusa City Schools.

Why are you seeking employment other than your current position?

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – Question 3 is also answered in question two.

LS – I want to become a school superintendent.

Summarize your current job responsibilities.

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – I am currently the Superintendent of  East Carter County R-II School District, located in Ellsinore, Missouri.  East Carter demographically has three schools, a current student enrollment of 776 students, 120 employees, 281 square miles, and 14 bus routes.  We travel approximately 500 miles before we serve breakfast.  In addition to the Superintendent, the district has four additional administrators; however the district is definitely large enough to require a Superintendent, however not large enough to allow for an Assistant Superintendent.  Because of this characteristic, I as Superintendent am responsible for oversight and/or direct involvement of all operations including but not limited to Transportation, Food Service, Curriculum, Federal Programs, State Accreditation, State Reporting, Board Agenda Development, District Budget, Purchasing, Building and Grounds, Maintenance, Custodial, Strategic Planning, Human Resources, State Assessment, State Assessment Improvement Initiatives, Guidance, Legal Issues, among others.  As a Superintendent from a district such as East Carter, I have had to become familiar with all district programs.

LS – I write and administer grants for Poplarville School District and I coordinate our federal programs.  I work with teachers and support staff to build their professional capacity to serve our students and I help them find the resources, programs and strategies they need for success in the classroom.

What are your strengths?

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – My strengths are derived from my Educational and Career background.  Educational experiences provide the academic ability required to be successful, but they cannot provide the characteristics to be successful as a craft.  The academic environment provided by the university cannot provide the experience necessary to be successful as an educator.  To illustrate, my university experiences enabled me to be qualified to serve as a District Superintendent, but did not guarantee the quality of my performance for that position.  I am now presently a higher quality Superintendent than I was nine years ago when I first occupied the position.  Malcolm Gladwell illustrates this in his book “Outliers”.  His research indicates that it takes about 10,000 hours of practice before anyone can be an expert in their field/craft.  I am an example of his research.  What I once struggled to achieve as a Superintendent nine years ago have become more automatic relative to response.

LS – • Student focused

·       Principled, collaborative leader

·       Visible, accessible, hands-on leader

·       Team player

·       Communicator & Listener

·       Fiscal Manager

·       Committed to lifelong learning

·       Informed decision maker

·       Strategic planner

·       Analytical Observer & Problem Solver

·       Results oriented

·       Resourceful

·       Relationship/capacity builder

·       Sense of Humor and Humility

What challenges do you see in Bogalusa?

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – No matter how great, all districts have challenges.  Rather than simply listing challenges, I will use a highly collaborative strategic analytical approach, and access the human resources of the board, administration, faculty, staff, students, parents, patrons, and stakeholders.  I feel that it would be unfair to the district and myself to be so bold as to publically outline the weaknesses of Bogalusa City Schools prior to some real connective collegiality with the above-mentioned parties.  I have my ideas, but I feel that they need real validation prior to wandering down that path.  The fact remains that Bogalusa has many positive characteristics that can be utilized to cause improvement, which will be appropriate with time.

LS – 1. Facilities

2.     Student Achievement

3.     Declining enrollment

4.     Accountability

5.     Transparency

6.     Stewardship

7.     Communication

8.     Leadership

Your current district has a mixture of high performing, medium performance and low performance campuses … what needs to be done to get all campuses to the point where they are at least showing improvement and are not stagnant or in decline?

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – The State of Missouri issues an Annual Performance Report based on a maximum score of 14.  The East Carter School District received a score of 11 out of 14.  If we would have participated in the State Voluntary End of Course (EOC) bonus assessments, I and others feel that we would have received a score of 12, rather than 11.  East Carter met all State Assessment Standards in Communication Arts and Mathematics in all grades scored (grades 3 – 12) with the exception of grade span 3 – 5 Communication Arts.  In addition, East Carter also met the ACT State Standard.  I have a plan in place to address the weakness and to keep stagnation from occurring which can be applied to any district and will be reserved for the interview process.

LS – We will conduct a comparability study to determine why schools with the same demographics are not improving or growing.  We can do this by gathering and analyzing the data.  We will use results to implement best practices and research to ensure all schools are performing at high levels.  Improving schools is a matter of determining where the weaknesses are and working to correct them.

Bogalusa has a reputation as a district where there is minimal parental participation. What can be done to effect change?

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – Again, I would answer this question with a response that would essentially echo the answer to question number 6.

LS – Research demonstrates family engagement in a child’s education increases student achievement, improves attendance and reduces dropouts.  Bogalusa recently sent 26 cheerleaders to a camp at The University of Southern Mississippi.  These students represented the school district very well.  They were behaved and disciplined.  Families and school sponsors worked with these students to help them realize the importance of their conduct and appearance to outside audiences.  I will go to these families and the families of other students and ask for their input on providing family participation in the schools.  We must help families realize they are the greatest advocates for their children and our schools.  We will develop multiple outreach mechanisms to inform families about family involvement policies and programs through newsletters, slide shows, local newspapers, memos and other media.  We will make optimal use of communication technologies to connect with families.  We will send learning videos/DVDs home.  We will post press releases, calendars, school menus and other messages on the district web site.  We will provide a family resource center with a coordinator.  Families can use the family resource center to learn technology skills and gain skills and knowledge to help their children with school work.  Families can check out learning materials from the Family Resource Center.  We will organize family advisory committees and PTA Units.  We can connect with families through face to face meetings, school performances, extracurricular activities and home visits.  Families will be invited into our schools as volunteers and resource speakers.  We will provide capacity building, training and technical assistance to teachers and administrator to scale up innovative practices to reach more families.  We will provide innovative programming and services to families such as leadership training, nutrition classes, exercise classes and family literacy to remove barriers to family participation.   We will evaluate the effectiveness of family involvement activities and programs on a regular basis.

Realizing all districts are different, and that you have not been in the district before, rank your priorities for Bogalusa from one through five, with one being the most important. Also, please briefly explain why for each.

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – Again, I would answer this question with a response that would essentially echo the answer to question number 6.

LS – 1.   Student Achievement – Student achievement is important for the successful development of our children.  Students who achieve in school become responsible, productive citizens and achieve occupational and economic success.

2.  High quality teacher in every classroom – Research tells us the teacher is the number one variable in academic achievement of students.

3. Family involvement – Research tells us family involvement is important in helping students perform academically

4. Safe disciplined schools – Teaching and learning cannot take place in a disorderly learning environment.

5. Improved facilities – Perception is reality.  People judge us by our appearance.  The public evaluates schools on the basis of appearance.  Clean attractive, well-kept buildings and grounds convey a sense of pride, attentiveness and respect for the public’s investment.

Make your case for becoming Bogalusa’s next superintendent.

LJ – Declined to respond

DS – I am currently a fully certified Superintendent and the Superintendent of East Carter Co. R-II School District, a district of 800 students, 120 staff members, 281 square miles, and 14 bus routes.  I have 24 years of experience in education including 10 years of teaching Secondary Math and Science, three years of Secondary Guidance and Counseling, two years as a High School Principal, and nine years as a Superintendent.  Due to these experiences, I now possess solid oral and written communication skills and have an exceptional frame of reference to base my leadership abilities upon, which I believe is unique.  I also believe that these experiences will synchronize to meet the candidate profile that Bogalusa desires.

As a superintendent with nine years of experience, I have been responsible for and become familiar with all aspects of district operations.  I am open, approachable, and responsive, have a broad range of k-12 experiences in both the classroom and in administration, possess strong communication and listening skills, can make tough decisions and follow through, value and respect differing points of view, possess strong skills in developing relationships, possess the ability to maintain balance among competing interests, am consistent and fair, maintain focus on student achievement, and have completed a fully accredited Doctorate Program in Educational Leadership.  All of the above mentioned characteristics are significant relative to my leadership in public education and I believe will be a significant benefit to Bogalusa City Schools.

LS – I believe the challenges in Bogalusa City Schools can be turned into opportunities.  I will conduct an assessment to determine priorities and needs in the school district. Everyone will participate in the assessment – students, educators, families, board members, and community members.  We will establish our goals and develop an improvement plan.  We will implement and monitor the plan in order to make adjustments as needed.   The plan will be documented and communicated in as many formats as possible and to as many audiences as possible.  Everyone in the school district will know and perform their responsibilities to achieve the goals.  As the leader of the district, I will follow-up and follow-through to ensure we are meeting the goals as outlined to ensure a quality education for every student.

BCS: A recap of the candidates' morning forums

The interviews are over.

Dr. Daniel Slack
(Photo by John H. Walker)

With the completion of Dr. Daniel Slack’s day long session of campus visits and interviews, another step in the selection of the next superintendent of the Bogalusa City Schools has been taken.

Now, in short fashion, evaluation forms will be tallied and compared and prepared for the board to review in preparation for next Tuesday’s meeting, when members are expected to make their selection public.

In addition to Slack, of the East Carter R-II School District in El Dorado Springs, Mo., board members will also consider Louise Smith, staff support specialist for the Poplarville (Miss.) School District and Lionel Jackson, one of two assistant superintendents in Tangipahoa Parish.

During the forums, which took place at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., each candidate was asked a series of question from a group of external stakeholders, parents and residents.

All were asked about their current districts and the roles they play in those districts. Other questions pertained to discipline, campus control, student discipline and a professional dress code for teachers.

On Monday, Smith sat back in her chair as she fielded questions in a conversational manner. She was quick to point out areas that were not under the superintendent’s control, but rather at the direction of the board.

Smith laughed as she told former Central High and Bogalusa High Coach Gary Magee he had asked an illegal question regarding her age, quickly adding, “I’m 64.”

She told the morning group she got a late start in the educational business, “but I’ve been working 28 years in education.”

She told Police Chief Joe Culpepper she saw the two of them becoming very good friends … and that she agreed with him that it is not up to the police to manage campus discipline, but the principal.

Smith also said she would relocate to Bogalusa as soon as possible.

“If I take your dollars, I would live here,” she said.

When asked if her husband would relocate, she laughed again, stating, “He’s my secret weapon. Yes.”

She then related a story about she and her husband and grown children going to a school function and getting together for a group picture.

Smith came across strongly when asked about holding people accountable.

“I’ve always been independent and I don’t like cliques … that’s one reason I don’t go into the teacher’s lounge,” she said. “We must hold people accountable. There is a due process that must be followed, but if we’ve done everything we can and they aren’t doing the job, we need to move on.”

Smith’s morning session took the entire hour and she continued to field questions as the group broke up.

On Tuesday, an almost charismatic Jackson took a different approach than Smith in that he stood and squatted during his session, frequently using hand gestures in his responses.

Jackson told the morning group that “we must maintain consistency. If you lapse on Day 1, you’ll lapse at the end of school.”

The 53-year-old said he didn’t have a timeline to offer in regards to bringing up Bogalusa’s dismal educational results. “It doesn’t happen overnioght, but I assure you they’ll come up the first year.”

Jackson was taken aback when one participant told him, “I don’t think you’re tough enough. Our results aren’t that good, but Tangipahoa (schools) are not that great, either. Four of your high schools are not meeting goals.”

“I’m not the leader,” Jackson responded.

He told the group he would be visible and on campuses and in classrooms “every day.”

“I lead by example,” he explained. “You lead people to do things … you sit down and collaborate, rather than beat someone over the head.”

He agreed with Smith in regards to it not being the job of the police to maintain discipline of the campus and that principals should be held accountable.

“Leadership is the strongest indicator,” he said. “If a principal cannot control  their school, they cannot lead.”

And like Smith, Jackson said he would relocate his family to Bogalusa.

As Jackson’s morning session came to a close, he offered to continue into his lunch if participants desired and fielded a couple of more questions, spending about the same amount as time as Smith.

Slack seemed to have the most difficulty in connecting with, or understanding what the group wanted as several questions had to be repeated or rephrased in an effort to get an answer.

One example was a question regarding what needs to be done to turn the district’s results around. After being asked once, Slack asked that it be repeated and after being told he did not answer the question, the moderator rephrased it.

“I think we give those kids (who haven’t learned) extra time to learn,” he said. “One thing is a tutoring center during the day with a certified staff member and student peers.” He then added, “You have to have some smart kids in the district.”

Slack’s emphasis was on the elementary schools, to the consternation of some of the forum participants. He said elementary was be his first priority, followed by middle school and then high school.

He said he would concentrate on K-through-3 students, pushing them to learn to read by the end of the first 30 days.

“Those first 30 days they are learning to read … after that, they are reading to learn. If kids can read, then math comes in …”

Unlike Smith, a grant writing specialist, or Jackson, Slack finally admitted grant writing was “not a forte’ of mine.”

He also came up short on his answer of what he knew about Bogalusa — offering enrollment, assessed value for taxes and the millage.

When Slack discussed his background, at districts with 110, 250 and 800 students, he got another negative reaction with at least one forum participant shaking their head from side-to-side in a “no” fashion.

Slack said he felt the key to motivating staff was, “They have to trust the new superintendent. First is to build relationships, second is model behaviors and third is that every job is important.”

When asked, “Do you have a target time for changing the academic environment?”, Slack again seemed to stumble through his answer.

“You begin Day 1, but realistically, change like that will take time. We have to concentrate on getting kids to read.”

When pressed, he responded, “My improvement scores will incline … incline the first year.”

Unlike Smith and Jackson, Slack’s session ended about five minutes short. And unlike Smith and Jackson, who seemed comfortable and at-ease, Slack seemed tense and on edge as he clasped his hands time and again.

Two interviews down, one remaining as interviews for BCS super's job nears end

And then there was one.

Lionel Jackson
(Photo by John H. Walker)
And then there was one.

Lionel Jackson, 53, one of two assistant superintendents for the Tangipahoa Parish School District, became the second of two candidates for the vacant Bogalusa City Schools superintendent’s position to interview for the post. Louise Smith, 64, of Poplarville, was the first candidate on Monday.

On Wednesday, Dr. Daniel Slack of the East Carter R-II School District in El Dorado Spring, Mo. will be final candidate to interview for the post, which is expected to pay close to $100,000 annually, including base and performance bonuses.

Smith and Jackson have already gone through what Slack, in a telephone conversation last Thursday night, described to wpnewsblog as “an aggressive schedule.”

The process begins at 8 a.m. with a tour of the district and schools and will conclude at 7:30 p.m. when Slack has dinner with the board.

The board will announce its choice on Tuesday, June 28 and hopes the new superintendent will be in the position on July 1.

Wpnewsblog submitted questionnaires to each of the candidates and will publish their answers following the conclusion of the interviews and prior to the board’s Monday night committee session.

The schedule:

8 a.m. Tour of District/Schools

9 a.m. Principals & Supervisors Group

10 a.m. Teachers

11:30 a.m. Open Forum in Board Room with External Stakeholders invited (Moderator in charge)

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. Student Council

2 p.m. Classified Staff

3 p.m. Union Representatives

4 p.m. Open Forum in Board Room with PTA and Parents invited (Moderator in charge)

5 p.m. Break

5:30 – 7 p.m. Formal Interview with Board of Education

7:30 - 9 p.m. Dinner with the Board

One interview down, two to go for BCS post

One down, two to go.

Louise Smith, of Poplarville, answers
questions during a forum Monday morning.
The forum was the first of two public sessions
Smith faced in the interview process.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

On Monday, Bogalusa City Schools superintendent candidate Louise Smith was in town as the interview process got under way for the position vacated this spring by Ruth Horne.

Smith is support staff specialist in the Poplarville (Miss.) School District and was a finalist two years ago when Horne was hired.

On Tuesday, Lionel Jackson, one of two assistant superintendents in Tangipahoa Parish will be in town to run the interview gauntlet. On Wednesday, Dr. Daniel Slack will be in town from El Dorado Springs, Mo. To wrap up the interviews.

The process begins at 8 a.m. with a tour of the district and schools and will conclude at 9 when Smith has dinner with the board.

The board will announce its choice on Tuesday, June 28 and hopes the new superintendent will be in the position on July 1.

The candidate schedule:

8 a.m. Tour of District/Schools

9 a.m. Principals & Supervisors Group

10 a.m. Teachers

11:30 a.m. Open Forum in Board Room with External Stakeholders invited (Moderator in charge)

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. Student Council

2 p.m. Classified Staff

3 p.m. Union Representatives

4 p.m. Open Forum in Board Room with PTA and Parents invited (Moderator in charge)

5 p.m. Break

5:30 – 7 p.m. Formal Interview with Board of Education

7:30 - 9 p.m. Dinner with the Board

BCS superintendent interviews start Monday

Louise Smith

Louise Smith, support staff specialist for the Poplarville School District and a Bogalusa superintendent finalist in 2008, will be the first of three candidates to interview for the vacant position.

Smith, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, has been with the Poplarville system since 1980.

The process begins at 8 a.m. with a tour of the district and schools and will conclude at 9 when Smith has dinner with the board.

On Tuesday, Lional Jackson, one of two assistant superintendents in the Tangipahoa Parish Schools, will interview while Dr. Daniel Slack, superintendent of the East Carter R-II School District in El Dorado Springs, Mo. will interview.

The board will announce its choice on Tuesday, June 28 and hopes the new superintendent will be in the position on July 1.

The candidate schedule:

8 a.m. Tour of District/Schools

9 a.m. Principals & Supervisors Group

10 a.m. Teachers

11:30 a.m. Open Forum in Board Room with External Stakeholders invited (Moderator in charge)

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. Student Council

2 p.m. Classified Staff

3 p.m. Union Representatives

4 p.m. Open Forum in Board Room with PTA and Parents invited (Moderator in charge)

5 p.m. Break

5:30 – 7 p.m. Formal Interview with Board of Education

7:30 - 9 p.m. Dinner with the Board

BCS candidates from districts with varied demographics, sizes and results

Lionel Jackson

On Tuesday, June 28, trustees of the Bogalusa City Schools will decide which one of three finalists with take the reins as superintendent of the city system. The successful applicant will become the third superintendent since Jan. 1, 2005 and will fill the vacancy created when Ruth Horne resigned effective March 11.

Dr. Daniel Slack

The candidates include (alphabetically) Lionel Jackson of Tangipahoa Parish, Dr. Daniel Slack of El Dorado Springs, Mo. and Louise Smith of Poplarville, Miss. and were picked from a group of 15 applicants to national search firm McPherson & Jacobson.

All three are veteran educators and all three have been finalists in a district’s search for a superintendent — Jackson and Slack as recently as this spring and Smith when Horne was hired in Bogalusa.

Louise Smith

Additionally, all three come from districts where some educational success has been met and, while progress has been made in Bogalusa, it would be hard to find anyone who feels there is anything other than a long way to go.

Jackson is one of two assistant superintendents in the Tangipahoa Parish District. With 19,455 students and 37 campuses, it is the largest district connected to the three finalists.

Tangipahoa is also the district that is most closely aligned to Bogalusa in regards to demographics — with 49.2 percent white and 47.3 percent black.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education’s accountability report, in 2009 the district scored 85.4 compared to the state median average of 89.4 and earned a two-start rating. In 2010, that gap closed as the district rated 88.1 and the state rated 91.8. It once again earned a two-star rating.

Seven schools in the district showed exemplary growth, eight were recognized, s0 had minimal growth, one showed no growth and three were in decline.

Slack is superintendent of East Carter R-II, a three-campus district with 772 students in a county with just 6,265 residents.

According to the Missouri Department of Education site, the district is overwhelmingly white — 96.6 percent — with less than 1 percent (0.08) black student population.

State proficiency targets show the district met its 2009 goals in communications arts and an “additional indicator,” but did not meet its mathematics goals. In 2010, the district only met goals in one area — communications arts.

Smith, a finalist in 2008, is in a Poplarville district that is most closely aligned with Bogalusa in two areas — four campuses and 1953 students.

The Mississippi Department of Education does not include district demographics, but statistical data shows Poplarville to be 73.94 percent white and 23.66 black and Pearl River County 85.55 percent white and 12.18 percent black. A large portion of Poplarville’s student body resides outside the city limit.

In regards to performance, Poplarville High School is rated as high performing and the junior high as successful. The upper elementary is on academic watch.

Bogalusa has 2,178 students, according to the job posting, on six campuses. The student population is 68.0 percent black and 29.7 percent white.

In regards to performance, the district has four campuses in minimal growth, one in no growth and one in decline. In 2009, the district scored 75.0 and earned a one-star rating versus the state rating of 89.4. In 2010, the margin widened — 75.4 versus 91.8.

School trustees will spend time with each of the three candidates as they visit Bogalusa. The candidates will also visit campuses and meet with staff and students and will also meet with the public prior to making a decision on Tuesday, June 28.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)