The pool of school board candidates is down to two after the third finalist for the position withdrew his name from consideration last week.
Michael James Steele, a Spring Hill resident who currently serves as executive principal for Stratford STEM School, has apparently decided not to take the position. That leaves the two local hopefuls, DCHS Principal Patrick Cripps and Supervisor of Special Education Gina Arnold in contention for the director’s seat.
Seven applications were originally reviewed by the board, who narrowed the field down to three last month.
Meanwhile, the board set terms of the director’s contract on July 9. A base salary of $85,000 per year and a two-year contract will be offered. A pay increase may be possible during the director’s evaluation process, held annually in March, making the next evaluation eight months away.
"This first year contract is not going to be a full year anyway," Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins III told the board members, "We'll have an opportunity during the evaluation to possibly grant a pay increase at that time if a majority of goals have been met to the board's satisfaction, and extend that contract for an additional year, which at that point would still just be a two year contract."
The members voted unanimously to adopt the measure.
The School Board is now set to meet in a special session at 7 p.m. on July 16 to choose a new director.