Blavatt Eliminated from WCS Director Consideration

Brian Blavatt, retired Boone County (KY) Schools Superintendent, was the first of three semi-finalists for the Williamson County Schools Director position to be eliminated following public interviews last week. This is noteworthy given that Brentwood Watchdog made Blavatt the early favorite based on being the only candidate with experience at the top of a school system and the similarities between his Kentucky district and Williamson County in terms of rapid growth and excellent education. Sorry for the jinx Mr. Blavatt -- if it happens again we may be on to something. What is known is that only about 50 or 60 people attended the open interviews at Centennial High School last week. That's worse than the 12%-15% participation expected in Tuesday's Brentwood City Commission election.

Don't fret though, if you've got kids attending Williamson County Schools you've got another chance to hear from the potential new leader because the School Board is now down to the final two candidates: Dr. Terri Breeden, a former school official in Metro Nashville now serving as an assistant superintendent of Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools, and Bret Jimerson of Grand Prairie (TX) Independent Schools. Each candidate will spend a day touring county facilities, meeting with administrators and staffers, and hearing from parents before facing a second public interview. The public interviews are scheduled from 7pm until 9pm on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, at Centennial High School.

Once those interviews are complete, the School Board could make its selection for a new director during a special meeting on Monday, May 11. To see if there's anything to the "Brentwood Watchdog Jinx" we're going to tab Dr. Breeden as the favorite now among the board -- even though she's got ties to Metro, this board seems to like a "known" quantity above all else. Check the earlier Watchdog post for links to Breeden and Jimerson's local district websites. Let us know which candidate you think will be the next Director of Williamson County Schools -- you've got a 50-50 shot at this point!!