NCSD director search on hold until Perdue inauguration

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: January 06, 2009

MORGANTON --

North Carolina School for the Deaf still doesn't have a permanent director nearly a year after its last director stepped down amid protests that included she didn't know American Sign Language.
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Education Services Superintendent Dwight Pearson said the search for a new director has been put on hold until Governor-elect Beverly Perdue takes office. Her inauguration is Saturday.
Pearson said the position is one that is "managerial exempt." The person picked for the job requires the approval of the governor, he said.
After Perdue's administration is seated and Pearson's office receives the OK, a new search for a director of NCSD will start, Pearson said.
Although he couldn't say how many people had applied for the position before the search was put on hold, Pearson said there were "several" applications. Those who have already applied will remain in the pool of applicants, he said.
Pearson said they want someone who is a proven educational leader with experience with deaf and hard-of- hearing students. That means the person would have to be fluent in signing, he said.
Principal Janet McDaniel has been serving as interim director since former NCSD Director Dr. Linda Lindsey stepped down Feb. 28, 2008.
After Lindsey left the job was posted on the state's Web site on March 24. At the time, the salary range for the position was listed between $59,332 and $99,141.
Lindsey left after an outcry from students and parents. Students tried to hold a protest but school administrators squelched it and instead met with students in the school chapel. Some students and staff were suspended.
One of the biggest complaints from students and the deaf community about Lindsey was that she wasn't fluent in American Sign Language and had to have an interpreter to talk to students and staff.
Lindsey was reassigned to the state office.

NCSD director search on hold until Perdue inauguration

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