Pro & Con: Good internal candidate for superintendent negates need for outside search

With the hiring of the past two superintendents, the Carson City School District has first sought to fill the position from within. This happened with Mary Pierczyinski and Jim Parry before her. We have done that because we have never been certain of what would be gained by going outside the district.

In fact, the last time we hired someone located by a national search and thoroughly vetted by the community, we ended up regretting the decision because the appointed person was charged with driving under the influence shortly after being hired. Hiring someone unknown cost the district not only time but money.

As Trustee Barbara Howe stated at the last meeting, it is unfair to applicants outside of the system if they know that historically we selected from within if there is a quality candidate under consideration from our own district. I believe that Mr. Stokes is a quality candidate who has demonstrated his managerial ability and who knows the District. If he otherwise meets with the approval of the board, he should be our new superintendent.

This process being followed is an open public process. Discussion of how a new superintendent was to be chosen was on the agenda at last meeting and openly discussed. The fact that the item was heard late in the evening was due to other matters that took much longer than anticipated. The issue is clearly on the agenda for this meeting, in an early position. The School Board is being very open in its actions.

• John McKenna is the Carson City School Board president