AURORA — The Aurora school board has met behind closed doors to decide how to proceed should Superintendent John Barry be named the state’s new education commissioner.
Barry is one of two finalists for the post. The State Board of Education on Wednesday was scheduled to interview Barry and the other finalist, acting state education Commissioner Robert Hammond.
A decision on that position is expected in the next few weeks.
Aurora school-board president Amy Prince did not say what specifically was discussed at Tuesday night’s executive session.
However, she said members talked about a variety of options as to how they would respond should Barry leave the district.
She said the board needs to balance selecting a strong candidate with having a new superintendent in place for the start of the 2011-12 school year in early August.
“We’re on a strong course right now, and I’d like to continue that course,” Prince said. “Finding the right person in a timely matter is going to be a benefit to everyone.”
Barry informed the board a few weeks ago that he was applying to lead the state education department, so the announcement last week that he was a finalist came as no surprise.
Aurora Public Schools went the unconventional route when it hired Barry, a former two-star Air Force general, in 2006. He stirred things up and sought community input on a variety of issues. Test scores improved. He initiated an anti- truancy campaign and closed campuses at high schools.
In a statement issued by the school board after the announcement of the two finalists, the APS board noted that student achievement growth is consistently above the state average and that Barry’s leadership was key in that.
“It is because of his leadership that we have a clear road map for the future of our students,” the statement said. “We wish Superintendent Barry all the best as he goes through this process. If he gets selected as commissioner, we all win.”
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
