LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Less than a month after Superintendent Marty Pollio announced his retirement, the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Board of Education voted unanimously to accept it on Tuesday.
At the first JCPS board meeting since his announcement, Pollio addressed his team, vowing to finish strong.
"My message tonight is I want to assure this board, my team, and all the JCPS families that I will not let up one bit until the close of business on July 30, 2025. I believe it's how you finish is the most important thing and I commit to sprinting through that finish line and finishing with everything I have," Pollio said.
Board Chair Corrie Shull touted the superintendent.
"We owe you a debt of gratitude and this community salutes you," he said.
Shull also announced the timeline of the search for Pollio's successor:
- An executive search firm will be used and chosen by Dec. 1.
- Community surveys and listening sessions will be held by Dec. 15.
- In January, a superintendent screening committee will be created and the criteria for the next superintendent will be determined.
- In February, the job application will be posted.
- Applicants will be recruited in February and March.
- The applicants will be reviewed in April and the JCPS board will decide the finalists.
- In May, the finalists will be interviewed and an offer to the top applicant will be issued.
- In June, the contract will be approved. If no candidate is found to fill the position or if the top candidate cannot start in July, an acting superintendent will be named.
"If all goes well, on July 1, the new superintendent will begin," Shull said.
While Shull has said the search will be national and local, board member Gail Logan Strange thinks the wider the net, the better.
"I think that gives us different experiences and different perspectives," Logan Strange said.
She said she's hoping the new leader will continue some of Pollio's mission moving forward.
"Keep the DEP program and all the work Dr. Pollio has started as far as it relates to diversity and making sure all of our students are getting a quality education; I need for that to happen," Logan Strange said.
She added she's confident the July 1 start date for the new superintendent is attainable.
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