Public perspective on next superintendent welcomed by PAISD

Teachers and other community members will have opportunities to chime in on what kind of superintendent should be hired to supervise the Port Aransas Independent School District.

The PAISD Board of Trustees plans to schedule meetings in which a search firm representative will hear suggestions from any Port Aransans who would care to attend the meetings, said Rick Adams, president of the board.

Trustees have hired Carol Moffett, president of Texas School Solutions, to produce a list of candidates for the superintendent position. The spot was left vacant after Billy Wiggins resigned in August to become superintendent of the Salado Independent School District.

Wayne Johnson, former superintendent of the Aransas County Independent School District, has been hired as interim superintendent of PAISD.

Trustees will meet at the PAISD administration building on Station Street at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, to talk with Moffett about criteria for choosing a new permanent superintendent.

Trustees will meet the next day and decide on dates and locations of the community meetings, Adams said, adding that he expects the get-togethers to take place by mid-October.

The meetings will not be meant for nominations of specific people for consideration as future superintendents, Adams said. Those who attend the meetings should talk simply about the qualities they believe the next superintendent should have, he said.

"Everyone who lives in the area is a stakeholder in this," Adams said. "This is an opportunity for them to provide some input to provide their vision of what kind of person should be hired."

Trustees later will vote to decide whom they'll hire.