Superintendent search ongoing

The search has begun for a new superintendent of schools for the Portales Schools District with the screening of applications is only a few days away.

Members of the Portales Schools Central Office have already been receiving applications for the position, which they would like to fill by June 17.

Portales school officials held a reception in honor of the outgoing superintendent James Holloway on Wednesday. Holloway’s resignation will be effective on Friday, after eight years as superintendent and assistant superintendent. He has accepted the position of assistant secretary of Education for Rural Education in the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Margie Tarango, administrative assistant for personnel for Portales Municipal Schools, said Portales school officials are maintaining their schedule for the appointment of a new superintendent. Tarango said the deadline to receive applications was 4 p.m. on May 16.

“We’re tentatively looking at screening the applications on Friday,” Tarango said. She said she was preparing the packets for the committee and school board members who will be doing the screening.

Tarango said during the screening process the applications will be reviewed to make sure they meet the qualifications, such as a Masters Degree from an accredited College of University, three years of teaching or administrative experience and a current New Mexico Administrative License.

Tarango said she could not disclose the name of the applicants or the number of applicants. Holloway has suggested the names of the applicants not be released and only the finalists be disclosed. Tarango said the finalists will be determined by Monday. She said the interviews of the finalists will take place from June 13 to June 17.

School board members put together the schedule for the search of a new superintendent on April 20 during a special meeting. School board members have formed the committee, but have not revealed who the members are.

Holloway has suggested to school board members to refrain from giving out details about the interviewing process to the public and to negotiate the salary once a new superintendent is selected.