News

Chester BOE to take interim tag off Goodman

Posted March 28, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

As it turns out, Chester didn't have to look too far for its next school superintendent.

In a news release last Thursday, the District 139 Board of Education announced that it had hired current Interim Superintendent Rick Goodman for the permanent position.

"The district interviewed a total of 10 candidates over a two-month period," said Board of Education President Mitch Hammel in the release. "We feel Mr. Goodman is the best candidate due to his vast experience in dealing with school districts similar in size to Chester, his ability to communicate with students, parents, staff and community members, and his willingness to be involved at the ground level."

The news came five days after the board was expected to meet and interview four candidates for the position on March 19. Goodman, 60, said he was one of the four, but didn't know the other three.

"I was attracted to (the superintendent's positions) previously, but it wasn't open," Goodman said in a phone interview with the Herald Tribune on Tuesday. "I had a medical situation with a family member where I had to back out for three years.

"When it came up as an interim position, I got excited as I thought that was a great opportunity."

The board had previously narrowed its search down to two other candidates - Gardner Central Consolidated School District 72C Superintendent Tony Whiston and Bluffs District 2 Superintendent Kevin Blankenship - but both prospects fizzled out and the search was restarted.

"There was one guy we had contract discussions with and they couldn't come to an agreement, so they didn't offer him a contract," Goodman said during media availability after the March 17 meeting of the board. "And the other guy, they just dismissed him."

Goodman was hired on a three-year contract and as part of the requirements, he will live in the Chester school district. He has been commuting from his home in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Goodman said the full-time contract will take effect on July 1 and the board is scheduled to meet in special session on Thursday to approve it.

Goodman said the special session would include the board deciding to accept a different bid for the Chester High School science labs renovation after Lake Contracting Inc.'s bid - which was previously accepted by the board during the March 17 meeting - failed to include $200,000 in mechanical costs due to "clerical error."

An agenda item for the meeting listed Fager McGee Construction's base bid of $829,800 as that other bid.

In the release, Hammel said Goodman's top priority will be "addressing financial issues the district is now facing."

The district is currently under a deficit reduction plan mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education and recently dismissed two teachers as a cost-cutting measure during the March 17 meeting.

"We made some very difficult decisions with some staff members and that will help as far as improving the budget," Goodman said, when asked how the district is weathering the state budget impasse. "There's possibly some more to be done next spring.

"I hope to do some additional budget things that don't involve personnel where we don't have to do a (Reduction In Force) of staff members. I think we can get close to that happening."

Goodman has been interim superintendent since Jan. 1, when he took the reins from Bill Riley, who served as Chester's first semester superintendent.

An Alexander County native, Goodman previously served as superintendent for the Red Bud and Thompsonville school districts. He also spent time as principal of Jonesboro Elementary and Shawnee Elementary South in McClure, Ill.

Goodman holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Hammel did not reply to multiple emails from the Herald Tribune seeking further comment.

Article Categories
News