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M/SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: NW at 12 mph Saturday, April 26, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 5, 2003 Medford superintendent finalists pared to three By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune The Medford School board and search committee have narrowed a list of superintendent candidates down to three. Superintendent Steve Wisely, who retires in June, released the finalists’ names on Friday. "I think they’re very good," said Wisely. "I thought the selection process was excellent." The candidates are Richard Gregory, a Cal Lutheran University professor and former superintendent of Roseburg schools; Jamon Kent, an independent contractor with Lane Council of Governments and former superintendent of Springfield schools; and Gerald Wilson, superintendent of the Hermiston School District in Oregon. Gregory, 61, said he left the Roseburg School District in 2002 to try his hand at higher education. But on Friday, Gregory said he wanted to return to the K-12 level. "My calling in life is as a superintendent," he added. The Montana native has 35-years’ experience as an administrator in Kansas, Wyoming and Oregon. He served as superintendent of Roseburg for five years before working at the California university. "The Medford School District has an excellent reputation, and that’s what attracted me," said Gregory. Gregory said if hired, his top priority will be dealing with budget concerns. He added that he’s an old hand when it comes to understanding Oregon’s budgetary problems. "I absolutely am an old hat. I also have a very, very intimate knowledge of Southern Oregon’s culture," he added. Attempts to contact school officials in Roseburg who worked with Gregory were unsuccessful. Kent, 63, served as Springfield’s superintendent for seven years. He was superintendent when, in 1998, student Kip Kinkel killed his parents at home and then gunned down 27 Thurston High School students the next day, killing two classmates. Kinkel is now serving 111 years in prison. "It was something I would not have anyone go through," said Kent. "It’s a drawn-out issue that is very hard to deal with." A Washington native, Kent held a number of administrative positions within the Beaverton School District before moving to Springfield. In August, Kent resigned from his post with Springfield, citing turmoil on the school board, including personality conflicts. "There were just some issues, and it was time to move on," said Kent, declining to go into further detail. Attempts to contact board members who had served when Kent tendered his resignation were unsuccessful on Friday. But Springfield school officials gave Kent high marks at every annual performance evaluation, specifically in regard to helping the school board attain its goals. Kent is currently developing a public safety project with Lane Council of Governments, and added that he is eager to take up the role of superintendent once again. Like Gregory, Kent said he is very impressed with both the Medford school district and the community. "I’m a kid-oriented person. I’m a team builder," he said. "I see all those things possible in Medford." Wilson, whose age was not available on Friday, has been the superintendent of Hermiston since 2000. Hermiston is a small community of 12,640 residents near Pendleton. Its school district has 4,000 students. School officials on Friday said Wilson was out of town, and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. Before moving to Oregon, Wilson served as superintendent of Sublette County School District in Pinedale, Wyo. He also has worked as a middle school principal and high school teacher in Big Piney, Wyo. Last week, Wilson was selected as a semifinalist for superintendent in Mukilteo School District — a 14,000-student school system near Seattle. But on Thursday, Mukilteo school officials said Wilson didn’t make the final cut of four applicants. Fourteen people, both in and out of state, applied for the Medford superintendent position, and last week the top five applicants were interviewed. Next week, school board members will visit each candidate in his hometown and check references. The board had hoped to announce its choice on April 15, but on Friday, Wisely said the date has been pushed to April 25. The board will announce its decision at a public meeting. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S