Now that the position of Richland One superintendent is open, the school board will soon announce a search committee to fill it. It has been standard operating procedure for the past search committees to hire a consultant to find “the best possible candidate for the job.”

The consultant will advertise the position throughout the usual media organizations and professional networks, then draw up a long list and present it to the search committee. The search committee will review the applicants and come up with a short list of people to be interviewed. The school board and “selected” influential community people will conduct extensive interviews.

Since 1883, Richland One (first known as Columbia City Schools) has had 14 superintendents. The first, David B. Johnson, was hired from NC. He stayed 12 years then went on to become the first president of Winthrop College. The next five (Dreher, Hand, Flora, Varn, and Kitchens) were promoted from within. All served nobly and without controversy, that is, until Kitchens got caught in the desegregation fallout. The Republican takeover of the school board led to short terms for Sparkman and Holcombe, both of whom were brought in from the outside.

Dr. Gordon McAndrew came from California via NC following a national search. He shook up the district with innovative programs, but was forced to leave after a spite of corruption.

Dr. John R. Stevenson, probably the most loved superintendent of all, worked his way up from teacher to superintendent. When he retired in 1994, a national search brought in Dr. Willis B. McCleod, probably the most hated superintendent. McCleod fled after a year and was replaced by his assistant, Dr. Don Henderson, who had come to Richland One with McAndrew. Henderson later left for Arkansas and Dr. Aretha Pigford became interim superintendent for a year. Then in 1999 a national search brought Dr. Ronald Epps to Columbia.

It is questionable whether a national search produces a better superintendent than someone promoted from within. One thing is for certain: Someone who has worked in the district as a teacher and administrator knows the district better than someone from faraway. They know what works and what doesn’t. They know who can be trusted and who can’t.

There are a number of capable administrators in Richland One now who deserve a shot at the top job. Diane James, currently an area superintendent, knows the district up and down and is highly respected for her long years at Carver Elementary School. Jeanne Stiglbauer has been an award–winning principal at Hand Middle School and Dreher High School. Ted Wachter, principal at Rosewood Elementary School, is highly qualified and certainly has the fortitude and integrity. Dr. Richard Moniuszko, deputy superintendent hired by Epps, will probably serve as interim, but he does not have the experience or popular support to succeed in the job.

These are but a few successful educators within the district who could become excellent superintendents. An autocrat or a powerful change agent is not needed. Richland One needs an open, caring, knowledgeable person with persistence and durability, someone who will listen to the teacher and the parent, the administrator and the board member, and, most important, the community of each school.

The new superintendent will have to sell the district’s programs to Columbia by being out there, not hiding in his/her office. The new superintendent will have to organize a tight ship and keep it moving forward.