Duplin hopes to have new superintendent by March 31
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on December 4, 2005 2:08 AM
KENANSVILLE -- The Duplin County school system should have a new superintendent by March 31.
Retiring superintendent Tommy Benson has agreed to stay on and help the new superintendent through the transition.
Response to the search committee's advertising has been very good, said Duplin County Board of Education Chairman Emily Manning. The search committee has received 17 applicants and three resumes.
"The quality of the applicants was outstanding," she said. Most applicants have doctorate degrees in one or more areas.
Some of the applicants are local folks, too, she added.
The search committee begins the first round of interviews Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and another interview may be set for the following week. She said the search committee is on track with the progress made so far, according to the timeline that the North Carolina School Boards Association suggested.
Benson announced in September he plans to retire after 35 years in education, most of it spent in his hometown. The James Kenan High School graduate spent his first three years teaching in Edgecombe County and came back home as quickly as he could. There were plenty of teachers back then. But today, he said, anybody from Duplin County can go to work close to home right away.
Ms. Manning said she is sad to see Benson go.