State superintendent search may wait for state law change - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

State superintendent search may wait for state law change

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By Ann Ali, Senior Political Reporter - bio | email

  • Local NewsLocal News

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:24 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:24:57 GMT
    Though the Mountaineer baseball team was not directly affected, they didnt hesitate to reach out to those in need. The team is safe and did manage to get a practice in yesterday. But after practice, the
    Though the Mountaineer baseball team was not directly affected, they didnt hesitate to reach out to those in need.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:17 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:17:00 GMT
    A man is dead after an afternoon accident in Fayette County. The two vehicle accident happened on WV Route 61 at 2:23 p.m. near Camp Branch Road. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found one of
    One man is dead, another hospitalized after head-on crash in Fayette County.

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:57 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:57:17 GMT
    Kids in schools were in the path of destruction when the storms hit in Oklahoma. But are schools here ready if something like this were to strike? Students at Rainelle Elementary School in Greenbrier
     
    Kids in schools were in the path of destruction when the storms hit in Oklahoma. But are schools here ready if something like this were to strike?


     
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  • GovernmentGovernment

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:43:57 GMT
    The three locks on the upper Monongahela River will be open to recreational boaters this weekend during limited hours.
    The three locks on the upper Monongahela River will be open to recreational boaters this weekend during limited hours.

  • Monday, May 20 2013 2:50 PM EDT2013-05-20 18:50:08 GMT
    Helen Holt, now 99, was West Virginia's first female secretary of state. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU during Sunday's commencement.
    Helen Holt, now 99, was West Virginia's first female secretary of state. She received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU during Sunday's commencement.

  • Monday, May 20 2013 6:11 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:11:12 GMT
    MORGANTOWN, WV (AP) — West Virginia landowners who want to apply for grants to improve wildlife habitat have until June 14 to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
    MORGANTOWN, WV (AP) — West Virginia landowners who want to apply for grants to improve wildlife habitat have until June 14 to contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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Right now, West Virginia statute requires the state superintendent of schools to have previously served as a county superintendent within the state.

So last week, when West Virginia Board of Education President Wade Linger said the search for a replacement to the abruptly and twice-fired Jorea Marple would be nationwide, a few people took notice.

"I think that's one of the things the Legislature will probably be looking at, is being able to remove some of those barriers that's been up there and to do a true, nationwide search for a new superintendent of schools, and that's not saying that the person couldn't come from West Virginia, but to give more flexibility," Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said recently on "The State Journal's Decision Makers," a statewide, weekend public affairs program.

"I would be willing to give the Legislature the opportunity to change the qualifications if they see fit to do that and do a true, national search."

West Virginia Department of Education Spokeswoman Liza Cordeiro said the board would need to approach the Legislature if they wanted to change the job description, which is in state code.

"We will know more about the search and timelines after the December board meeting," Cordeiro said.

The board is scheduled to meet Dec. 12-13.