Bartow Schools Begin Search For Next Superintendent

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- The Bartow County School System has began the search to find the next man or woman who will serve as superintendent. School board members are currently reviewing proposals from two different firms as part of the search process.

The system said board members will meet with one firm -- King-Cooper and Associates -- on Nov. 14. Once a search firm is hired, School Board Chair John Howard said he'd like to see the position advertised both internally and externally.

The search is needed due to current Superintendent Dr. John Harper last month announcing his plans to retire from the position. His last day on the job will be June 30, 2018 (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Once those applications are submitted, the firm will choose the most qualified candidates and present them to the school board for consideration. At that point in the process, the search is narrowed down to three finalists.

Interviewing for the post is scheduled to begin in March, and the school board hopes to vote on its final choice in April 2018, the system said.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to select someone that will continue the upward direction that the school system is going," Howard added. "We are confident that this new search will yield us a great candidate to continue what Dr. Harper has worked so diligently these past 10 years to obtain."

Dr. Harper, who said he's leaving a job he loves to do personally as well as professionally, added new leadership will bring new ideas and a fresh vision to the Bartow County School System.

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