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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, February 13, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classifieds Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 10, 2005 Board: Long is sole finalist for superintendent By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Phil Long will remain the Medford school district’s sole candidate for superintendent, board members decided Wednesday. The district’s curriculum and elementary education director was the top choice out of 15 candidates among board and selection-committee members, noted board Chairman Mike Moran. "Phil Long was number one on both lists," Moran said. "He has done well in this process, which was a national search." A second finalist, Suzanne Cusick of Hillsboro, bowed out to pursue other opportunities, opening questions this week about how the board should proceed with just one candidate. Community members expressed concerns about Long’s lack of experience as a principal or superintendent as well as his decision to home-school his children. Advertisement Long said it was awkward not to be able to answer those concerns until the board decided how to proceed. After an executive session Wednesday, Moran said the board wanted to continue evaluating Long as outlined in the search plan adopted in the fall. Board members will call and visit people who have worked with Long in the next few days, Moran said. Long started in the Medford school district as a teacher in 1984 and has served as an assistant principal at South Medford High School. In 1998, he advanced to the district office, where he has served as supervisor of secondary curriculum, director of curriculum and director of elementary education. He describes himself as a team-builder who wants to focus on serving students. Long said his length of service with the district and the varied tasks he has taken on there — from aligning curriculum standards to overseeing an accreditation bid — have given him a complete view of the district. "I offer myself as a leader who knows the past and looks to the future with a clear vision of a better way," he said in his cover letter to the board, which he released to the Mail Tribune Wednesday along with his other application materials. As for his family’s choice to home-school, which grew out of religious faith and a desire to see the children academically challenged, Long said he knows it brings criticism and questions from some people. He welcomes the challenges as healthy. Home schooling "has given me a broader perspective on what it means to be a parent responsible for the education of my children," he said in an essay prepared as part of his application, noting that parents are ultimately responsible for raising their children. It has also given him a chance to talk with patrons and colleagues about how public schools can better serve parents and students. "I believe we must seek a better way to align our skills and resources with the important work of helping parents educate and raise their children to adulthood," he continued. Following interviews and reference checks, the board will meet Tuesday to make a final decision on Long. It may announce its decision at its regular meeting, set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the South Medford High School cafeteria. Moran said he was pleased with the search process and the way it involved community members on the selection committee, allowed candidates to meet teachers and others involved in the schools and garnered media attention along the way. "We are trying to be more transparent," Moran said. "I’m liking the involvement. I like hearing comments even when I don’t agree. I hope the public feels they’ve been heard, even if they don’t agree with our final decision." Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers Advertisement s