EISD chief moving on

By MARY RAINWATER
The Palestine Herald

ELKHART April 04, 2008 02:07 am

— Elkhart Independent School District superintendent Dr. Glenn Hambrick has announced his intent to step down after being named the lone finalist for superintendent at Carthage Independent School District earlier this week.
Carthage ISD trustees announced their decision to hire Hambrick Tuesday. The state requires a 21-day waiting period before naming anyone superintendent of schools in Texas.
Hambrick has been with EISD since 2004, being hired by the board to replace retiring superintendent Johnnie Keeling who had been with the district for 31 years. The district earned a recognized rating in 2007, according to the Texas Education Agency.
“It is with mixed emotions that I leave EISD,” Hambrick said in a Thursday phone interview. “I am excited about the new challenge, but at the same time, I am anxious about leaving behind the familiar — good people, a good school and a place that has been home to me and my family.”
Hambrick said that his leaving the district was not as a much a decision he made, but an opportunity that presented itself.
“Carthage ISD is an attractive district — they have a reputation as a good district,” Hambrick said. “Carthage is different than EISD in that they are property wealthy, where Elkhart is not.
“That alone will bring some different challenges to my career.”
Carthage ISD trustees requested Hambrick be available to start May 1, but Hambrick said that will all depend on what the EISD board is able to do.
“If they are able to get someone in place — an interim superintendent — I am sure they will release me,” Hambrick said, adding that the EISD board has set a meeting Tuesday, where they will discuss personnel matters and likely prepare for Hambrick’s exit.
“The EISD board can’t do anything official until Carthage ISD officially hires me April 22,” Hambrick said. “But they can certainly make plans.”
Hambrick did say that the EISD board was made aware of his status as a lone finalist prior to the Carthage ISD board’s official announcement.
“I was able to talk to each local board member before it was made public,” Hambrick said. “While they all said they hated to let me go, the (EISD) board understood my decision.”
Carthage ISD is a Class 3A school district with 2,770 students. The district was rated academically acceptable in 2007, according to the TEA.
The Carthage ISD board will meet for Hambrick’s official hiring April 22. According to Hambrick, EISD likely will meet after that to release him from his contract and name an interim.
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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com

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