And then there were eight.

During an executive session September 24, 2007, the Trinity Valley Community College Board of Trustees narrowed the field of presidential hopefuls.

The board, according to TVCC President Ron Baugh, will be interviewing eight candidates during the next two weeks. The board chose the eight from a field of 36 applicants for the position.

TVCC Kaufman Campus

The board is searching for a replacement for Baugh, who will be retiring from the college at the end of February 2008 after more than two decades as president. Baugh has been aiding the board in the search for his replacement.

“We’re right about where I had hoped we would be in the process,” said Baugh.

The board will be interviewing the eight candidates beginning Oct. 8. The board will meet again during October to discuss narrowing the field down further. More than likely, said Baugh, a second round of interviews will be conducted in late October.

If the interview process goes smoothly, said Baugh, then the finalists for the job could possibly be named at the board’s November meeting.

In order to comply with state law, the board will announce the names of the finalists 21 days before the hiring of the new president. Colleges must wait three weeks after announcing the finalists before voting to hire a new president. The same rule also applies to public schools looking to hire a new superintendent.

Although most colleges and public schools choose to name only one finalist, it is at the board’s discretion to name more than one.

“If all goes well, we hope to have made a hire by mid-December,” said Baugh. Hiring before the beginning of the holidays will give the incoming president time to find a home in the community during the Christmas break, he added.

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