by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor
Four people, including two former Liberty County School Superintendents, have submitted applications to fill the post vacated by the suspension of Liberty County School Superintendent Gloria “Gay” Uzzell.
Uzzell was removed from office following her arrest July 17 on charges of grand theft, official misconduct and failure to disclose information in a public records request.
The school board appointed Director of Administration Dr. Kathy Nobles to fill in until a new superintendent is named.
Nobles submitted her name for the post Tuesday morning, joining three others vying for the $89,000-a-year post. Former School Superintendents Tony Anderson and Jack “Hal” Summers have applied, along with the school district’s former Director of Transportation Greg Solomon.
A spokesman for the governor’s office said there was no timeline for the appointment to be made. No deadline has been announced for applicants to submit their name for consideration.
One person who is not seeking the job is School Board Chairman Kyle Peddie. “I’m not putting my name in the hat,” Peddie said Tuesday.
But with the opening day of school approaching, he said it was critical that a decision be made soon.
“We’re hoping to get a superintendent before school starts,” he said, noting that everyone – from school staff, community members to students – are asking daily, “Have you heard anything?”
He said Nobles “is doing a phenomenal job” but added, “Everybody needs to know who the boss is.”
But even the person appointed may not know how long they’ll have the job because the suspended superintendent “could come back if acquitted,” Peddie said.