The Italy School Board of Trustees revoked its offer naming Michael Steck of Veribest ISD as lone finalist in the school’s superintendent search at a called meeting Monday evening.

The board interviewed six possible superintendent candidates last week and unanimously named Steck as lone finalist Thursday evening.

Steck learned on Friday, however, that the Veribest school board refused to release him from the remainder of his five-year contract. He has been with the district since 2008.

Steck brought the school district from an unacceptable rating to an exemplary district rating within a two-year period.

The Italy board then met in a called meeting Monday evening to discuss the selection of another lone finalist candidate. They took no action at this meeting but noted they will invite a possible candidate back to another called board meeting on Monday, April 4.

The board also discussed personnel in a budget work session but took no action at Monday’s meeting.

School districts are required to release the name of a superintendent finalist 21 days before the hiring choice is made official.

Comment from Wall Hawk received 3/28/11 – 10:20am

In regards to the story yesterday,

“Italy School Board revokes lone finalist offer”, by Alysa Kirton, states that the Veribest School Board would not release him from his contract. This is not true.

I am familiar with Steck and Veribest ISD, and he never told the Veribest school board formally his intentions of looking for employment elsewhere. He has not even told them he was a lone finalist at Italy or anywhere else, and they did not refuse to release him from his contract.