Holloway, SSD parent groups to meet today

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By COLLEEN MCCARTHY

Newly named Starkville School District Superintendent Lewis Holloway will meet with three local public school support groups for the first time today.
Holloway, who is currently serving as the superintendent of Bulloch County, Ga., was named the superintendent by the district school board last week. He is making his first official visit to the district this week to meet with administrators, tour the schools and become more familiar with the district. He will meet with representatives of Parents for Public Schools, Starkville PTA and the Starkville Foundation for Public Education at 12:30 p.m. today in the Greensboro Center.
“I’ll be listening to them about what they feel are the strengths of the district. I’ve had some experience working with different parent groups in the past, so I’m looking forward to this,” Holloway said. “It will be informal, but I hope they’ll share some ideas and any concerns about where the district needs to be headed.”
Though many of the representatives from the organizations heard Holloway’s presentation during the superintendent finalists’ public forum two weeks ago, today will be their first time to hear from him personally.
“I was able to see his public presentation a couple of weeks ago, and I would like to hear how he expects to implement some of the strategies he mentioned during that presentation in our district,” SFPE President Doug Bedsaul said. “I’m looking to hear the quickest ways that he believes we can improve the district but also some of his long-term strategies.”
From the start of the superintendent search last summer, district stakeholders have vocalized the need for a superintendent who would foster a strong relationship with the parents and the community.
“We’re really excited to welcome him to Starkville and to our wonderful school district,” PPS president Anne Buffington said. “I’m looking forward to hearing the ways he would like to move our district forward. I’ve been really impressed with him so far, particularly when he said he wants to come in and listen first, take the temperature of the district, and hear from parents, stakeholders and teachers.”
Holloway spent Wednesday meeting with the school principals, district office staff, Mayor Parker Wiseman and the board of aldermen, and touring Starkville High School. At SHS, he visited a number of classrooms, including the art building on campus and Millsaps Career and Technology Center.
“I’m really impressed with the quality of staff that’s here in the district, and I’ve only just scratched the surface,” Holloway said.
Holloway will continue his SSD tour through the end of the week. The school board will meet with the new superintendent on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the Greensboro Center to discuss his visit to the district.