Seven more apply for superintendent spot

Applicants have three days remaining to submit resumes for the Hernando County School District Superintendent position with 14 applications turned in thus far.

School district Attorney Paul Carland said Monday that last week his office received 14 applications - two of which he has yet to review because they came in Friday when he was out of the office.

Of the five others, they include:

• Melindo A. Persi, Ft. Lauderdale, who has 11 years experience as a superintendent and five years total as an interim superintendent. He claims to be a "people person" who operates an open school district and has served in "virtually all administrative positions in a local school district.

• Gene Levenstien, Delray Beach, who is currently interim Assistant Superintendent of Business and has served in that position since July 2002. He claims to have the interpersonal skills necessary to "involve the Board of Education, staff, students and community in quality program development directed toward reaching a shared vision."

• Henry Hastings, Grosse Point Park, Mich., currently a consultant and policy advisor since 2002 and Eastern Michigan University College of Business instructor. He claims to have vast experience in education, business, law and involvement in k-12 state policy issues - particularly No Child Left Behind.

• Bryan Blavatt, Union, Ky., a retired superintendent with 25 years of school administrative experience who - besides leaving the district as one of the highest performing in Kentucky and being named Superintendent of the Year in 2007 - claims he retired too early and wants to return to being an education leader.

• I.V. Foster Jr., Hazel Crest, Ill., current Superintendent of Prairie-Hills Elementary School District 144. He claims to offer, among other qualities, "effective organizational leadership/management, scope, vision - effective communication, healthy board, superintendent relations," and instructional leadership.

It's still unknown whether interim Superintendent Sonya Jackson, who's expressed interest in the position, has yet to apply for the position.

Carland said following Friday's deadline, the nine-member superintendent search committee will meet Wednesdays, Nov. 4 and 11 to finalize lists for school board members' approval. In December, school board members will select finalists for public interview.