After a heated discussion, the Katy (Texas) school board has voted 4 to 3 to choose acting Superintendent Ken Gregorski as the lone finalist for the superintendent's job.
Click2Houston reports that Gregorski is in line to replace Lance Hindt, who resigned earlier this year in the midst of controversy over decades-old allegations that he bullied students during his middle and high school years. Hindt also was accused of plagiarizing his doctoral dissertation at the University of Houston.
Gregorski has 26 years of experience in public education, but board members who opposed his appointment expressed concern that the process was rushed; they wanted a national search.
"This isn't about the board. It isn't about any one candidate," said Rebecca Fox, a board member for more than 15 years. "It's about our students, our family, our teachers, our community. They deserve us to do a public, thorough, transparent and inclusive search."
Board member George Scott, who supported Gregorski's selection, says the administrators is the right person for the job and there is no need for a national search.
The Katy district, in the western part of the Houston area, has about 80,000 students and is one of the faster growing school systems in Texas.
Gregorski had been the deputy superintendent when the board appointed him to serve as the district's interim superintendent starting Dec. 1.
As the sole finalist, Gregorski will undergo a 21-day vetting process, after which the board will decide on his appointment as superintendent.
A news release from the Katy district described Gregorski as a seasoned professional with experience as a teacher, associate principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent.
"Over the past two years as deputy superintendent, Gregorski played an integral role in laying the groundwork for student learning in Katy ISD through his supervision of the School Leadership and Support Department, Human Resources and the Athletics Department," the district said.
