CCISD names interim

Clarendon CISD Trustees approved hiring Rick Teran as interim school superintendent during their regular meeting last Monday, July 7, and could name their pick for the next fulltime superintendent as early as next week.

Teran has 42 years of experience in education and served as superintendent in Childress for eight years before retiring five years ago. He and his wife of 31 years currently live in Bushland, and the couple has three kids and five grandchildren with one on the way.

The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) is helping CCISD search for a new superintendent after Jarod Bellar retired from the position this month and took a new job in Kansas. TASB headhunter Rich Howard recruited Teron to fill in temporarily after the school’s first interim pick, Bryan Davis, was unable to take the position due to contractual obligations, Teran said.

Trustees narrowed their pool of superintendent applicants to three during last week’s meeting and began interviews with those finalists this week in called meetings on Monday and Tuesday. They will continue interviews next week and could announce a finalist either July 22 or 23, Teran said.

In keeping with the way most Texas school districts operate, Clarendon CISD is not releasing the names of the three finalists. Once they name a lone finalist, there will be a 21-day waiting period before that person can be officially hired by the district.

Teran said a new superintendent could be on the job in Clarendon as early as September 1.

In other school business last week, trustees voted 6-1 to Opt-Out of the Homeschool participation in all UIL activities. Those voting in favor were Taylor Shelton, Jeff Robertson, Donny Howard, Robin Ellis, Wayne Hardin, and Chrisi Tucek, and Mike Word opposed the motion. The vote prohibits homeschoolers living within the district from participating in UIL academics and athletics for CCISD.

The board also met in closed session for about 30 minutes before returning to open session to acknowledge the resignation of Lisa Grahn. The board also offered one-year contracts to Terri Luna, Aimee Lyles, Carrie Anne Torres, April Carroll, Izaiah Kelley, Laura Martinez, Aaron Smith, and Trevor Leeper.

Also during the school board’s regular June meeting, the trutees met in closed session for about 45 minutes before returning to open session and acknowledging the resignations of Alix Snure and Kalen Grahn and offering one-year contracts of employment to Roy Davis and Stan Caffey.