By LISA BICKNELL
CV&T News Editor
The Estill County Board of Education held a special meeting on Thursday, June 4, to announce the hiring of a new superintendent.
The board unanimously awarded a four-year plus contract to Jeffrey Saylor, currently a central office administrator in Bell County, with a salary of $100,000 a year.
He will begin his new role as Estill County Superintendent on June 24, per the termination of his current contract.
Saylor served as Bell County Principal from 19991-2011 as well as assistant principal there for two years prior to that. He has 12 years coaching experience and spent ten years in the classroom as a mathematics and biology teacher.
Since 2011, Saylor has also served as personnel director, facility construction coordinator, and Title 1 director in Bell County.
Board chair Robbie Starling said, “We felt like he fits the criteria.”
Some of the qualities the board was looking for were an educational leader, someone student-centered and knowledgable in curriculum and instruction, as well as someone having experience with finances and budgets. They also sought a leader “visible in the community” and someone with “good P.R. skills.”
There were 27 applicants for the position, including those local, in state and out of state.
The six chosen by the school district’s screening committee were all from within the state of Kentucky.
Board member Patti Hood said, “Surprisingly, the decision was unanimous. All the board members agreed [that Saylor was the best choice].”
“We really appreciate the job Randall Christopher has done as interim superintendent,” Starling added.
Christopher has submitted his resignation, and Starling noted that they [the board] did not ask for it. Blain Click, principal of the Estill County High School, was also among the applicants.
The board did not disclose who the final six were, and Starling said there is no criteria against hiring anyone local.
Assistant Superintendent Tonya Isaacs said she has spoken with Saylor on the phone. She noted that he seemed “very excited” about his new job.
“My doubts just went away,” she said. “We hit it off.”
L. W. Beckley said a lot of research went into the search for the position, and that the board sought out references who were not listed on resumes.
Saylor will be attending the next regular board meeting, which will take place on June 18, at 6 p.m.