By Paul Sloth
Journal Times | Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE - The Racine Unified School Board on Monday agreed to continue talks with James Shaw, a University of Wisconsin education professor who is the only finalist the board is considering for the open superintendent job.
Shaw, a clinical professor in the UW's department of educational leadership and policy analysis, seemingly appeared out of nowhere last month, contacting district officials to express his interest in the superintendent post.
Board members interviewed Shaw for the first time Monday. Shaw had met previously with board President Tony Baumgardt.
"We've been blessed to get a second chance at this. We have a good candidate for our superintendency," Baumgardt said. "Dr. Shaw knows what's going on in the state and the nation when it comes to education."
The board is not ready to offer Shaw the job, but plans to schedule a series of meetings between the district's various employee groups, PTAs and community members.
Baumgardt said board members used the feedback they received from meetings between these groups and previous candidates for superintendent.
"We want to make sure that we follow the process we set forth before," Baumgardt said.
School Board member Melvin Hargrove said he was "extremely impressed" with Shaw, who would bring 40 years of education experience to Unified if he were to become the next superintendent.
"He definitely has a feel for what is happening in Racine," Hargrove said. "I believe he is prepared to face what is happening in the district."
Board members have searched for prospective superintendent candidates since learning a month ago that Barbara Moore Pulliam backed out of negotiations. The board had chosen Pulliam to replace former superintendent Tom Hicks.
Pulliam accepted the position, but turned it down weeks before she was scheduled to start in the district.
Shaw contacted Unified officials in June, shortly after Pulliam backed out, to discuss the vacancy in Racine and whether Shaw's leadership would benefit the district.
"I don't believe in luck. God chooses and blesses us when he wants something to happen. I believe it was providential," Hargrove said. "That's not to say that I'm not still disappointed with what happened with Dr. Pulliam."
Board member Dennis Wiser said he is looking forward to seeing what the district's employee groups think about Shaw, a former superintendent of the Menomonee Falls School District.
The School Board hasn't completed its review process. Members will do reference checks and background checks.
Wiser seemed optimistic the day after Monday's meeting.
"The man has just an enormous amount of energy and an enormous amount of information at his fingertips," Wiser said. "And he's been in and out of the district off and on for the past three years, so he knows where he's going."
Jack Parker, Unified's interim superintendent, told the board last month that he would stay on the job through the end of September.
The board hired Parker last year to replace Tom Hicks, who left the district in August 2007. The School Board will vote on extending Parker's contract at its next business meeting
July 21.
After Sept. 30, the district could contract with Parker on a monthly basis as the board searches for a new superintendent.