A month following the resignation of former superintendent Matthew McCorkle, the Washington City Schools Board of Education named Robert Hamm interim superintendent Monday evening.
During the regular monthly meeting of the board, a new business item was moved up the agenda and a motion was made by Jim Teeters to accept the interim contract of Hamm to fill McCorkle’s absence. The board unanimously approved the motion and Hamm will assume responsibilities of the position immediately.
Currently, according to board president Ken Upthegrove, the contract for Hamm is based on the discretion of the board president and he said that Hamm and himself will discuss how long he will continue in the position, but said that it will be until they are able to permanently fill the superintendent position.
“Hamm has a lot of experience,” Upthegrove said. “He has actually done this before and was absolutely a top-notch person (during the interview). He stood out because of his compassion for people. Also he has worked in situations just like this.
“He worked for Dover school district for 15 years,” Craig Copas, board vice president, said. “He had great success there. Year in and year out they were a school district that was with distinction and had high marks under his leadership. He really shined in the interview.”
Upthegrove and Copas both confirmed that Hamm was found due in part to a consultant hired to search for individuals for the superintendent position. They both also said that Hamm was not interested in the full-time position, but was ready to help the district.
On Feb. 27, the board emerged from its approximately 40-minute executive session and board member Jennifer Lynch read a resolution to accept then-superintendent McCorkle’s resignation, effective March 31, and to employ him under a consulting contract for administrative services. The contract allowed McCorkle to essentially perform administrative duties until the board finds a new superintendent.
Lynch and the four other board members — Upthegrove, Copas, Teeters and Jon Creamer — all voted in favor of the resolution. Board members refused to comment on the reason McCorkle’s job status had been in question and why he resigned, citing legal advice.
According to the board, McCorkle will continue his work on various projects within the district, including federal programming, for an undisclosed amount of time.
Stay with the Record-Herald for more coverage from the monthly board meeting.
