Cox withdraws from Millcreek supe search

When the Millcreek School Board makes it final decision on the school division’s next superintendent, it’ll only have two finalists to choose from instead of three.

Culpeper Superintendent David A. Cox withdrew his name last week from consideration for the school’s chief administrative position, citing personal reasons.

Cox — superintendent for Culpeper County Public Schools since 2001 — is currently on a one-year paid sabbatical, which ends June 30, 2009.

Tom Templeton, director of school personnel services for the Pennsylvania School Board Association, Inc., confirmed the news of Cox’s withdrawl on Friday.

The Millcreek Township School District is located in a suburb of Erie, Pa. and has a total enrollment of about 7,400 students in 15 schools.

Earlier this month, Cox, 47, visited some of those schools and even spoke with administrators and teachers.

The Millcreek School Board formally introduced Cox to residents during a public forum on Oct. 1.

Cox told the Erie audience that he applied for the Millcreek position because of the “opportunities that exist in the district and the desire for a new challenge in his career,” according to an article in the Erie Times-News.

The remaining two finalists for the job are Michael Latusek, 59, superintendent of seven schools in the Elizabeth Forward School District in Elizabeth, Pa., and Michael Golde, 41, superintendent of six schools in the Chichester School District in Boothwyn, Pa.

The Millcreek School Board may make its decision on the area’s superintendent as early as tonight during a meeting starting at 7 p.m.

The Culpeper County School Board is also conducting its own superintendent search.

After mutually parting ways with Cox in June, the board voted in favor of appointing Acting Superintendent Larry Carter to take over chief duties until his one-year contract ends June 2009.

Meanwhile, the board will meet with four superintendent search firms this week in the hopes of finding the county’s next superintendent.

They are: McPherson & Jacobson of Omaha, Neb., Proact Search of Milwaukee, Wis., Ray & Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Synergy Consulting of Richmond, Va.

The CCPS School Board hopes to offer the position to its ideal choice in January.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or rsimmons@starexponent.com.