7 candidates to interview for top TPS post Sunday

The seven candidates who are seeking to become the next superintendent of Toledo Public Schools will be interviewed Sunday by the Board of Education during a 12-hour marathon session.

The five-member board plans to meet at the Clarion Hotel-Westgate, 3536 Secor Rd., beginning at 9:30 a.m.

"Candidates are still making flight arrangements, so the schedule is not finalized," board Vice President Steven Steel said. "We are going to ask each of the candidates the same questions."

Mr. Steel said the interviews will be held in private, which is permissible under Ohio law.

The seven are:

•Craig Bangtson of Leitchfield, Ky., former superintendent of the 14,500-student Bartow County Schools in Cartersville, Ga.

•John Foley, the district's interim superintendent, who has worked nearly 30 years for the school system.

•William Harner of Warminster, Pa., a regional superintendent for the Philadelphia school system.

•Karen Jackson of Milwaukee, interim director of human resources for the Milwaukee County government.

•Thomas Maher of Vero Beach, Fla., superintendent of the 17,000-student Indian River School District in Vero Beach from August, 2003, to December, 2005.

•Carlinda Purcell of Macon, N.C., who was superintendent of the 33,000-student Montgomery County Public Schools in Alabama from 2004 to 2006.

•Creg Williams of South Holland, Ill., former superintendent of the 36,000-student St. Louis Public Schools.

The board scheduled the final hour of the meeting for "discussion and next steps," according to the agenda, but it was unclear whether finalists would be announced.