By Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – Three Kentucky school superintendents are finalists to become the new leader of Fayette County Public Schools.
The candidates announced Wednesday are: Elaine Farris, Superintendent of Clark County Public Schools in Winchester, Tom Shelton, Superintendent of Daviess County Public Schools in Owensboro, and Lu Young, Superintendent of Jessamine County Public Schools in Nicholasville.
Board of Education Chair John Price says the three were chosen from among 14 applicants coming from ten states.
"These candidates are all familiar with the funding formula, the SEEK formula, the political structure, if you will, in Kentucky. They understand School Based Decision Making Councils".
Price says in the end, Farris, Shelton, and Young, had more of what board members wanted to see.
"We heavily considered some out of state candidates but as we reviewed and discussed them, we just felt that these people had the most qualities that we were looking for."
Each candidate will spend a full day in Lexington next week. They will meet with seven focus groups representing students, parents, school district employees, and community members.
The school board plans to meet June 10 to begin deliberations and could make a selection that day. The board hopes to have a new superintendent in place by July.
Current superintendent Stu Silberman is retiring after seven years with the second largest school district in the state. He has taken on the director's position with the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.