Herren, Newman up for spot; decision might come Tuesday

The Auburn School District Board of Directors on Monday received the withdrawal of Dr. Elaine Beraza’s candidacy from consideration for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Beraza told board president Craig Schumaker in an e-mail that she was taking herself out of consideration for “professional and personal reasons.”

“It’s disappointing,” Schumaker said. “She came out and we gave her a tour of the facilities and she talked to personnel and we felt that everything was going well. There wasn’t a whole lot of detail in her e-mail.”

Beraza’s withdrawal leaves Kip Herren, deputy superintendent of school programs, and Mike Newman, associate superintendent of business and operations, the final candidates.

Schumaker said the board could make a decision as early as Tuesday. He added, however, that he wanted to check with the other board members first to see if they wanted more time.

Superintendent Linda Cowan announced in January her intention to retire at the end of the 2008 school year.

The board selected three finalists out of six semifinalists for the superintendent job on May 7.