Columbus City Schools superintendent finalists spend the day in the district
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The next steps in the search for a new Columbus City Schools superintendent are happening Thursday.
Finalists Dr. Angela Chapman, Dr. Brian McDonald, and Dr. George (Eric) Thomas are set to meet with students and teachers, along with city and county leaders, and additional community members as part of a “Day in the District.”
They are also expected to answer questions from families during a community forum, which is planned at 3700 South High Street from 6:30 pm - 8:00 p.m.
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Families also can watch the forum on the Columbus City Schools Facebook page.
ABC 6/FOX 28 plans to make another attempt to interview the candidates, as well. CCS has denied previous requests.
Columbus NAACP President Nana Watson has criticized the cost and transparency of the district’s superintendent search. Watson also questioned the process search firm Ray & Associates used to screen the initial group of 31 applicants.
“They weren't vetted properly, in my opinion, and yet we paid $250,000," Watson said earlier this month. "How much of that went to the search firm? I think they did a botched-up job."
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CCS has declined a request from ABC 6/FOX to review the completed applications, citing attorney-client privilege since a law firm handled the search.
The selection process is set to move ahead with final interviews next week.
Details on the three finalists are listed below:
Dr. Angela Chapman
Dr. Angela Chapman currently serves as the interim superintendent after Dr. Talisa Dixon announced her resignation in December. Dr. Chapman started at CCS in June 2019 as the Chief of Transformation and Leadership.
She's worked at multiple districts, including Cleveland Heights-University Heights like Dr. Dixon.
Dr. Brian McDonald
Dr. Brian McDonald has been superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District in California since 2014, according to his write-up. Online research showed he also worked for the Houston School District before that.
Dr. George "Eric" Thomas
He said in his write-up that he has spent much of his life in Cincinnati working for Cincinnati Public Schools.
Dr. Thomas is currently the Associate Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools.
