THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220400
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE AND TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Two of the three finalists for the school superintendency have withdrawn from consideration, complicating the search to fill the division's top job. The board had hoped to make a decision before Christmas.
James L. Pughsley, interim superintendent for the past six months, and Bob Bowers, superintendent of the South-Western City School District in Grove City, Ohio, announced Thursday that they were no longer in the running.
Pughsley's future with the district was uncertain. He said he would meet with School Board Chairwoman June Kernutt before commenting on whether he would continue in the interim job.
Several highly placed school leaders said that Pughsley had been offered the job and turned it down. However, Pughsley declined to comment on whether the job was offered and made no mention of that in a written statement released Thursday afternoon. Kernutt said it ``was not totally accurate'' to say Pughsley had been offered the job and declined it. She refused to elaborate.
The third candidate for the job, Tim Jenney, superintendent of the Greenville County, S.C., schools said by phone that he remains interested in the job here. Jenney said he was not aware of the decisions by Pughsley and Bowers, and he declined to say if he had been contacted by anyone from the Virginia Beach School Board.
It remained unclear whether the Board would pick Jenney for the job or begin the search anew. Several members said that would have to be discussed at a closed meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. today.
``I think it has to be the consensus of the board'' how to proceed, said board member Tim Jackson.
The news was the latest in a series of blows for the state's second-largest school division. Although well-respected academically, the Beach schools have moved from crisis to crisis in recent months. Morale and confidence have been shaken by financial woes that culminated in a special grand jury probe of the district's finances. A devastating fire swept through Princess Anne High School in September, prompting an outpouring of community support, but also requiring hundreds of students to relocate to other campuses.
Through all of this, Pughsley, who had served as deputy superintendent before taking over the interim post this summer, has been the highly regarded internal favorite for the job, supported by staff and administrators throughout the district. Praised for his integrity and forthrightness, several senior administrators had said his leadership was crucial to restoring stability and credibility to the district.
``That was the most difficult part about making the decision,'' to withdraw, Pughsley said. ``I know there are people who have been very supportive of me.''
Pughsley said his decision came ``with mixed emotions and regret.''
``The friendships have been very strong, the trust has gone both ways,'' he said.
Although Pughsley has never been implicated in the financial disaster which left the district with a $12.1 million budget shortfall at the end of the past fiscal year, some in the community had urged that any decision to appoint him superintendent be delayed until after the special grand jury completed its investigation. Others had urged that he be appointed now so that the district could start making long-term plans.
As Pughsley spoke with top administrators Thursday afternoon, shock and disbelief made its way through the district.
``I'm sorry because I enjoy working with Dr. Pughsley,'' said K. Edwin Brown, executive assistant to the superintendent for the Educational Planning Center, Program Audits and Strategic Planning.
``He has led us through some difficult and trying times and has done so with great integrity. . . . I've been proud he's been our front person.''
In his statement, released by the the district's office of public information, Pughsley cites personal reasons for withdrawing.
``I sought the superintendency because I felt we could accomplish so much more together,'' the statement reads in part. ``While my enthusiasm remains strong, I believe the interests of the school system are best served by my withdrawal.''
Brown said he did not ask Pughsley to explain his decision.
``I don't know what his reasons are, but knowing him, I'm sure they're sound ones,'' Brown said.
Board members had not yet been notified of Bowers' decision even as they wrestled with Pughsley's on Thursday.
``After talking to the consultant this morning, I have decided that it's in my and the best interests of my family to back out and move forward here,'' said Bowers, in a telephone interview from his office in Ohio.
While admitting there were several factors in his decision, Bowers said that among the most important was the Virginia Beach School Board's lack of unified support for him.
``The board was unable to reach a strong consensus on me,'' he said. ``When you can't have a strong consensus, then it's best for me not to move my family there and start with that.
``Had I made a more significant impact, I could have gained a stronger majority of support,'' he added. ``I was not counting numbers, as such, but coming into a job like that you want strong support so that you can make things work and so that they feel good about you coming.''
Contacted Beach board members were hesitant to comment on Pughsley's decision.
``I don't have any comment other than to wish him very well,'' said board member Donald F. Bennis. ``He came in at a difficult time and did an outstanding job.''
Regardless of the decision, Jackson said the impact on morale was unavoidable.
``I'm sure it's going to affect morale,'' he said. You're going to have change now. The fact that (Pughsley) withdrew, I think, is going to affect a lot of people because of the respect he had throughout the system.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
``While my enthusiasm remains strong, I believe the interests of the
school system are best served by my withdrawal,'' - James L.
Pughsley, in a statement released by the district's office of public
information
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOL BOARD by CNB