Sterling board names new schools chief

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STERLING - The Sterling School Board decided it had its man for the superintendent job all along. After a final round of interviews Saturday night, the school board

selected Assistant Superintendent Tad Everett to oversee the district beginning on July 1.

"I'm very excited about it ... extremely excited about it," Everett said.

Everett, who is in charge of human resources for the district, has verbally agreed to take the superintendent position, he said.

Contract discussions will take place this week, Board President Jim Brotheridge said.

Everett will replace Superintendent Wil Booker, who will retire at the end of the school year.

Booker and his predecessor, Pat McMahon, both came from outside the district when they were hired by the school board.

Everett, a former social studies teacher, was selected in a process that included a search by the Illinois Association of School Boards that included surveys and forums with staff and community residents.

The top staff concern was finding someone who was a "people person." The community hoped the district found someone who had passion, would stay in the community for the long haul and had children in the district. Also, the community urged the school board to find an internal candidate.

Last month, the board narrowed the search from five candidates to three finalists.

The former Challand Middle School principal and Sterling High School assistant principal beat out Tri-Valley School District Superintendent Brad Cox and former Cary Consolidated School District superintendent Michael E. Smith, the other final candidates for the position.

This will be Everett's first superintendent's job.

He and his wife Cindy have three children.