Parents have their say in selecting new Richard Montgomery principal

Candidates will be interviewed this week

Chief School Performance Officer Stephen L. Bedford told the group that its suggestions would form the basis of the questions the selection committee would ask candidates for the position when they are interviewed on Thursday at the MCPS Central Office.

The parents and residents chose five out of a list of 13 qualities they find desirable in a principal. Administrators would then compile the data and formulate a list of questions to ask candidates, Bedford said.

‘‘This is the same process we go through every time we hire a new principal,” he said.

Bedford admitted, however, that the timeframe for hiring is a little rushed.

‘‘It’s a little crunched, but it’s not unreasonable,” he said.

Administration officials are expecting the new principal to start by July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year, Bedford said.

The interview panel will consist of five or six Richard Montgomery staff members and the same number of parents, students and central office staff members, Bedford said.

Four students attended the meeting Thursday evening. No Richard Montgomery staff members attended.

Carrasco was accused of running a consulting business on the side during school hours, but last week was cleared of all allegations, school system officials reported. Beginning July 1, he will serve as the school system’s new director of secondary leadership training. He will replace Gail Covington McBride, who resigned to become superintendent of schools in Bisbee, Ariz., according to a press release issued by Montgomery County Public Schools.