State may lose interim ed commissioner | Lexington Herald Leader

Interim Kentucky Education Commissioner Elaine Farris is in the running to become Clark County's new school superintendent, which could complicate the selection of a new state education commissioner.

The state Board of Education appointed Farris as interim education commissioner in January to serve until a permanent successor to former Commissioner Jon Draud is selected. The board hopes to name the new commissioner before the next school year starts in August.

But if Farris is picked for the Clark County job before a new state commissioner is seated, the state board would have to name a new interim commissioner to serve until Draud's successor is selected, said state Education Department spokeswoman Lisa Gross.

The state board will discuss the commissioner selection process when it meets Wednesday.

According to Gross, Farris told state officials she intended to apply for the Clark County post after Superintendent Ed Musgrove resigned effective June 30. Farris is a Clark County native.

Other finalists for the Clark County post are Lisa Stone, an education leader with the Kentucky Association of School Councils; Eminence Independent Schools Superintendent Donald Aldridge; Stephen Dickerson, assistant superintendent of the Jennings County schools in Indiana; and Paul Christy, operations director for the Clark County Public Schools.