THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEETS IN SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY AFTERNOON TO APPROVE A NEW CONTRACT FOR THE INTERIM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
JAMES VANDERLOO HAS BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SINCE FEBRUARY, AND WAS ONE OF THREE FINALISTS FOR THE FULL TIME POSITION.
ON MAY 5TH, A DIVIDED SCHOOL BOARD DECLINED TO OFFER THE FULL TIME POST TO VANDERLOO OR APPLICANTS FROM TEXAS AND ILLINOIS.
LATER IN MAY THE BOARD DECIDED TO OFFER VANDERLOO A ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO CONTINUE SERVING AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FROM JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR THROUGH JUNE 30 OF 2027.
FORMER SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN DAN GREENWELL SAYS THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, VANDERLOO WAS THE PERSON THE PUBLIC AND MANY STAFF MEMBERS WANTED FOR THE JOB:
DANSUPT1 OC…..SHOULD BE SUPERINTENDENT. :30
NUMBERS PROVIDED FROM GREENWELL’S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST SHOWED THE APPLICANT FROM TEXAS, TIM MILLER, SHOWED ONLY 50% OF THE PUBLIC WOULD RECOMMEND HIM TO BE THEIR SUPERINTENDENT AND JUST 42% OF THOSE SURVEYED WOULD CHOOSE THE 3RD APPLICANT, WILL PICKENS OF CHICAGO.
GREENWELL QUESTIONS WHY THE BOARD DID NOT RELEASE THOSE NUMBERS TO THE PUBLIC AND OFFER THE FULL TIME POST TO VANDERLOO:
DANSUPT2 OC………..CONTINUE TO DO IT. :24
GREENWELL DESCRIBES THE CURRENT SITUATION AS AWKWARD, AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECTS ON CURRENT STAFF GOING FORWARD.
DANSUPT3 OC…DROP OFF THERE. :36
SIOUX CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT HAD A FULL TIME ACTIVE SUPERINTENDENT SINCE ROD EARLEYWINE RETIRED LAST JULY 1ST.
HIS REPLACEMENT, DR. JUAN CORDOVA, WENT ON A LEAVE OF ABSENCE WHEN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTED LAST AUGUST, AND THEN WAS PLACED ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE LAST NOVEMBER.
ANGELA BEMUS SERVED AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT BUT WENT ON MEDICAL LEAVE IN FEBRUARY AND HAS SINCE TAKEN A NEW JOB WITH THE SGT. BLUFF LUTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.
