County waiting to fill superintendent position

County waiting to fill superintendent position

Tim Leeds

The Hill County Commission is waiting for confirmation that the man elected to Hill County superintendent of schools will not take the position before taking steps to fill the office.

Gary Pfister, who won the primary election for the position and was unopposed in November's general election, sent a letter to the commissioners in mid-November saying he would not take the office.

The other county officials took their oath of office Monday morning.

Commission Chair Mike Wendland said that the superintendent's position is not officially open until 72 hours after the term begins. Pfister has that long to reconsider his decision, Wendland said.

Pfister said Friday that he would not change his mind.

He said in November that he was unhappy the commission had not answered his questions about how the office, which was reduced to part-time effective this year, would function. He said he believed the commission intended to consolidate the office into another office in the county.

Friday, Pfister said his opinions had not changed.

Wendland said in November that the reason the commission would not discuss changes in the superintendent's office was that the changes had not yet taken place, and that a full-time superintendent still was in office at the time. It would be inappropriate to plan or discuss changes in the office while another person still was in the position, he said.

Wendland said Friday that typically, after the superintendent's position is officially open, the commission would appoint a replacement to serve Pfister's term.

The Hill County Commission is waiting for confirmation that the man elected to Hill County superintendent of schools will not take the position before taking steps to fill the office.

Gary Pfister, who won the primary election for the position and was unopposed in November's general election, sent a letter to the commissioners in mid-November saying he would not take the office.

The other county officials took their oath of office Monday morning.

Commission Chair Mike Wendland said that the superintendent's position is not officially open until 72 hours after the term begins. Pfister has that long to reconsider his decision, Wendland said.

Pfister said Friday that he would not change his mind.

He said in November that he was unhappy the commission had not answered his questions about how the office, which was reduced to part-time effective this year, would function. He said he believed the commission intended to consolidate the office into another office in the county.

Friday, Pfister said his opinions had not changed.

Wendland said in November that the reason the commission would not discuss changes in the superintendent's office was that the changes had not yet taken place, and that a full-time superintendent still was in office at the time. It would be inappropriate to plan or discuss changes in the office while another person still was in the position, he said.

Wendland said Friday that typically, after the superintendent's position is officially open, the commission would appoint a replacement to serve Pfister's term.