The second of three final candidates has withdrawn from consideration for the city schools superintendent’s position.
Isaac “Ike” Leon Haynes announced his withdrawal today.
Board President Tommy Prude announced Saturday the board met and chose the new superintendent, but he declined to release the name while negotiations were underway. A special meeting will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Brandon Central Services, during which an announcement about the post is expected to be made.
Prude could not be reached for comment today.
Haynes, who is currently serving his second term as the elected superintendent of the Jefferson Davis County School District in Prentiss, participated in a public interview last Tuesday with Columbus Municipal School District’s Board of Trustees.
“I just want to withdraw and focus on the successes and the foundation we’ve laid in Jefferson Davis County,” Haynes said today. “I just want to withdraw.”
When asked if the Board of Trustees contacted him since his interview, he said he had no comment.
Dr. Pamela Henson, director of instructional support for the Baldwin County Board of Education in Bay Minette, Ala., interviewed last Thursday, but Prude announced late Saturday she had withdrawn due to personal reasons. Henson confirmed there was a death in her family.
CMSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell interviewed Friday and is the only remaining candidate of the three finalists.
“Wow,” she said when told of Haynes’ withdrawal, of which she said she was not aware.
Though it’s been a long process, she said she feels it was “fair and equitable,” adding she was “completely on board” with the public interviews.
An earlier candidate, Dr. John G. Ladner, withdrew May 14, shortly after announcing his status as the fourth finalist. Ladner is interim superintendent of the Moss Point School District and reportedly had been interested in Moss Point’s full-time position, but was unable to reach accord during contract negotiations.
CMSD’s Board of Trustees hired the Clinton-based Mississippi School Boards Association in July to conduct the search, signing a $9,500 contract with them to handle the application process and background candidates.
MSBA Executive Director Dr. Michael Waldrop today said the board has not strayed from its initial cost, beyond the mileage for two trips to deliver resumes of the 31 candidates who applied. Though the board extended the search in hopes of attracting a broader pool of candidates, Waldrop said his organization did not charge extra for the second search.
He said if they extend the search a third time, they would definitely renegotiate the contract.
“But keep in mind, their success is our success,” Waldrop said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean they would have to pay again.”
He said it’s not uncommon for candidates to withdraw during the process, but it is unique that the district has had three of four finalists withdraw.
“They’ve got one candidate left,” Waldrop said, speaking of Liddell. “It’s certainly within their prerogative to name that person as superintendent.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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