By Stephanie Nelson
For The Advance

Two candidates have qualified to become the next Escambia County Schools superintendent.

In a special called meeting Tuesday, school board members learned that Assistant Superintendent John J. Knott and Escambia County Middle School Assistant Principal Kim D. Staley are vying for the position.

Board Attorney Broox Garrett told board members there was “a lot of interest in the position,” after he was questioned about the low number of applicants.

“And we got a lot of phone calls and had more interest, but we only received two applications that fit the parameters and qualifications set out by the board,” he said. “And these are two good candidates.”

The application period closed Thursday. Current superintendent Randall Little announced his June 30 retirement in February.
A public interview session will be held on Mon., May 5. Staley will interview first at 4:30 p.m., and Knott will interview at 6 p.m.

“The way these interviews work is that the board will have a series of questions to ask, kind of in a round-robin style,” Garrett said. “I will act as a moderator. There will be no questions taken from the public. However, they are welcome to attend.

“And the interview time is not mandated,” he said. “That means you can go longer if needed.”