Staff report

The Kentucky Board of Education Wednesday affirmed its wish to give the public a look at the final candidates to succeed retiring Commissioner Terry Holliday before the panel conducts interviews Friday and Saturday.

In a Kentucky Department of Education media advisory with the weekend agenda, the agency said that, at its meeting on Tuesday, "the board indicated its desire to release the names and brief biographies of the candidates prior to Friday's meeting." The KBE directed its search consultants, Greenwood/Asher and Associates, to contact the five final candidates "to ensure they do not object to their information being released."

Friday afternoon in Lexington, the KBE will get a report on additional background check and reference information collected by Greenwood/Asher representatives. That evening, state board members will have working dinner discussions with the remaining candidates. More interviews will follow Saturday morning.

According to the advance agenda, the state board will consider one of three options Saturday after completing the interviews:

* direct staff to contract for in-depth criminal and background checks on one or more of the finalists;

* vote to select a new commissioner and extend the job offer; or

* schedule another special meeting to continue the search process.

With the exception of making those decisions, much of the Friday and Saturday KBE meetings will be in closed session as permitted by the Kentucky Open Meetings Act regarding personnel decisions.

Holliday's final day on the job is next Monday, Aug. 31. On Sept. 1, Associate Commissioner Kevin Brown becomes interim commissioner, serving until the new top KDE official can start work.

Here is the full agenda for the meeting:

Kentucky Board of Education Special Meeting

Friday (beginning at 4 p.m. ET)

Embassy Suites, 1801 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511

I. Call to Order (Open Session)

II. Roll Call

III. Discussion of reference and background check feedback and individual candidates for the commissioner's position with the search firm representatives (Closed session per KRS 61.810(1)(f))

IV. Working dinners and individual discussions with selected candidates for the commissioner of education's position (Closed session per KRS 61.810(1)(f))

V. Recess

Saturday (beginning at 7 a.m.)

I. Meeting continues (Closed Session cont’d - Full Board) (Note: The day's meeting includes a working breakfast and lunch.)

II. Interviews with individual candidates for the commissioner of education's position and discussion of information gathered during individual interviews (Closed session per KRS 61.810 (1)(f) cont'd)

III. Consideration of a possible motion to direct staff to contract with an appropriate entity to conduct an in-depth criminal and background check on candidate(s) for commissioner's position, if appropriate (Open session)

IV. Consideration of a possible motion to select the new commissioner of education and issue an offer of employment, if appropriate (Open session)

V. Consideration of a possible motion to convene a special meeting(s) to continue the interview and search process and direct the search firm likewise, if appropriate (Open session)

VI. Adjournment