Wake Board of Ed hears from superintendent candidates

Representatives from the search firm Heidrick & Struggles were prepared to present four names for consideration on Oct. 14, but the committee asked them to wait and return with a list of five to 10 names.

Committee members Debra Goldman, Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and Carolyn Morrison and Ron Margiotta, the board chairman, planned to talk about the compensation package they would offer a new leader for the state's largest school system.

Before watching the interviews, the committee members discussed the costs associated with doing criminal background checks on candidates. Anne Majestic, the board's legal counsel, pointed out that while having the checks performed by Heidrick & Struggles would cost extra, it keep the candidates' names a secret from schools staff. She promised to work up a cost comparison of the two avenues for the committee.

Superintendent Del Burns resigned effective June 30 after a dispute about the direction the board was taking the district. Burns accused some board members of "political partisan gamesmanship" when it comes to educating students.

Donna Hargens, the system's chief academic officer, is filling the role on an interim basis.