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(WOWT) The OPS Board of Education played to a full house Monday night as the panel convened for the first time since the slate of candidates for superintendent was wiped clean over the weekend.
With the three finalists for the job removing themselves from consideration, the board goes back to work.
The members assembled at 6:30 with a big crowd looking on.
Over the weekend Dr. Paul Gausman and Dr. Khalid Mumin pulled their resumes from the table. Their joint notice of withdrawal from consideration came a week after Dr. Jane Stavem pulled her name from the field.
That joint statement from Dr. Gausman and Dr. Mumin said they were withdrawing because of what they called a, “lack of support” from the board of education.
Sources close to the search tell WOWT 6 News that the board couldn’t reach unanimous agreement on which candidate to support.
More than 20 people signed-up to address the board Monday evening. An OPS parent and teacher got the dialogue started saying the board is not focused on what is best for the students.
Another parent said she’s, “frustrated and disappointed,” with the board.
Board President Lacey Merica said it's clear there was not a concensus on making a selection and she said there will likely be an interim superintendent next year.
Board member Yolanda Williams said, "My phone is my own worst enemy right now." She said the number-one complaint she's heard is about a lack of transparency. "I'm ashamed right now.," she said. "We should all be embarrassed."