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William R. Hite Jr., interim superintendent for the Prince George's County school system, appears to be the only candidate being considered by the school board for the permanent superintendent's position — and he has won the favor of several board members.
Hite, who has led the school system since the departure of former Superintendent John E. Deasy in November, was interviewed by the board in closed session for more than two hours Friday evening at the school system's future headquarters at Washington Plaza office complex in Upper Marlboro.
Board members would not comment publicly on details of the interview with Hite. However, board members said that Hite is the only candidate currently being considered and that he is expected to be offered the top job.
"It was prudent to look internally first before going externally to do a nationwide search," Ron L. Watson, board vice chairman, said when asked why no other candidates are currently being reviewed. "The prudent course of action was to start with who we already had in place, which was Dr. Hite."
Hite could not be reached for comment by press time.
The board plans to name the new superintendent by June, when the school year ends.
Board chairwoman Verjeana M. Jacobs said after the interview with Hite that board members will "go back through [his responses] and make an assessment of what they heard," and Hite may be interviewed a second time.
Board member Donna Hathaway Beck (At large) said Hite's qualifications fit the criteria culled from public meetings held on the superintendent search in January, such as a willingness to make a long-term commitment to the school system and experience in a large school district.
The meetings were coordinated by the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.
Beck also noted that Hite has support from many community members.
"He has tremendous support, which has really been clear," Beck said.
Board member Rosalind A. Johnson (Dist. 1) said she supports Hite, but the board is going through the process carefully because of the decision's importance.
"Hiring the superintendent is a major responsibility, and we are very cognizant of that responsibility, and the history of turnover. And so clearly we are going to be very careful about that," Johnson said.
Deasy and his predecessor, Andre J. Hornsby, each stayed for about two years. The county has had six superintendents since 1991 whose tenures have been four years or less. The county school board used MABE to coordinate the search process when the board hired Hornsby, and Iowa-based search firm Ray and Associates coordinated the search, which resulted in Deasy's hiring.
Hite, 47, served as deputy superintendent to Deasy from 2006 until Deasy's departure in late 2008. Since Hite has taken the reigns of the county school system, he has overseen the school system's budget process, which required the school system to make $36 million in cuts due to lost revenue, and is now overseeing a countywide school boundary review and the consolidation of 12 schools.
A native of Richmond, Va., Hite previously served as assistant superintendent in Cobb County, Ga., outside of Atlanta. Hite, who lives in the county, is married and has two daughters, one in high school and one in college.
E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.