USD 235 superintendent/principal candidates chosen Daylong interviews, tours begin Monday with session for public to meet the candidates

The USD 235 Board of Education announces three finalists for the positon of superintendent/secondary principal.

Each finalist will participate in a daylong interview next week. The day will consist of meetings with faculty, staff, students and community, ending with an interview with the board of education.

"We are very pleased with the results of our search for a superintendent and principal for the junior and senior high," Matt Wood, board president told the Tribune. "Our search team, headed by Howard Smith, dean of the college of education at Pittsburg State University, has been exhaustive in bringing to us the top applicants from around the world. We have narrowed our selection down to three outstanding and well qualified candidates. The board is very excited to welcome these candidates to our district."

The three candidates are Craig D. Bagshaw of Chanute; Dr. Daniel L. Johnson of Prescott; and Gary L. Klahn of Bartlett, Neb.

The first interview will be Monday with Bagshaw, currently principal of Garfield Elementary School in Parsons. Bagshaw holds a Master's Degree from Pittsburg State University in educational leadership and a Bachelor's Degree from PSU in elementary education. He also has a Bachelor's Degree from Kansas State University in sociology and an Associate Degree from Fort Scott Community College. Previously he has been kindergarten through eighth grade principal at Thayer, a teacher at Murray Hill Elementary School, Chanute and a teacher at Altoona-Midway Middle School.

On Tuesday, Johnson, currently pre-kindergarten through 12th grade principal at Amoret, Mo., will be interviewed. Johnson received his Doctorate from Saint Louis University in educational leadership; a Master's Degree from PSU in educational leadership; a Bachelor's Degree from PSU in elementary education and an Associate Degree from Fort Scott Community College. Johnson's previous experience has been at Dodge City as District ELL Coordinator and Middle School Math Teacher; and Computer and Elementary Teacher at Mound City.

The final interview will be Wednesday with Klahn, currently superintendent/principal at Wheeler Central Public Schools in Bartlett, Neb. Klahn has a Specialist Degree from Chadron State College in education; a Master's Degree from the University of Nebraska in education; and a Bachelor's Degree from Wayne State College in education. Klahn's previous experience has been as superintendent at Elba, Neb.; seventh through 12th grade principal at Thedford, Neb.; seventh through 12 grade principal at Emerson, Neb.; seventh through 12 grade teacher at David City, Neb., Hemingford, Neb. and at Fairfield, Neb.

Interview schedule

From 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., there will be a coffee reception for elementary school staff to meet the candidates at West Bourbon Elementary School Conference Room, with Tyler Jackman leading.

The candidates will meet from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. with Interim Superintendent Jan Hedges at the district office.

Teacher Jim Mason will give the candidates a tour of the district from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m., with a 15-minute break following.

The district student council group will meet the candidates from 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Uniontown Junior High School conference room, with Student Council Advisor Kristi George leading.

There will be a tour of the junior high/senior high school and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the school staff in the junior high conference room, with Hedges or Mason leading.

The candidates will meet district personnel from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in the same conference room, with Hedges leading.

There will be a media time in the board of education room from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m., with Hedges leading, followed by a 15-minute break.

Custodian Mark Hartman will lead a facilities tour from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

From 3 to 4 p.m., a teacher screening of the candidate will take place in the West Bourbon Elementary School Conference Room with Teacher Bonnie Rathbun leading, followed by a 30-minute break.

There will be an open meet and greet from 5:30 to 6:16 p.m. at the high school media center for the community, parent-teacher organizations, faculty and staff, with Wood leading.

Dinner with the board of education will be at 6:15 p.m. in the junior high conference room with the candidates' spouses invited to attend.

The board interview of the candidate will follow dinner, with Wood leading. The candidates' spouses will be given a tour of the district and schools.