OKC school board selects interim superintendent

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma City school board on Tuesday appointed the school district's chief academic officer to serve as interim superintendent. <br><br>Pamela Powell will fill the position

Tuesday, January 28th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma City school board on Tuesday appointed the school district's chief academic officer to serve as interim superintendent.

Pamela Powell will fill the position vacated by William Weitzel until a permanent replacement is found, officials said in a news release.

``We are pleased Dr. Powell agreed to serve in this capacity,'' said Cliff Hudson, chairman of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education.

``Her managerial and administrative experience gained from serving as assistant superintendent of schools for the 23,000-student Pasadena Unified School District in Pasadena, Calif., will serve our district well during this transitional time.''

Powell will work with Weitzel and Manuel Soto, the district's chief operation officer, to ensure an orderly transfer of duties, officials said.

``These remain challenging times for public education across the country,'' Powell said. ``While districts must address and manage issues stemming from a severe educational funding crisis, we must not and we cannot lose sight of our ultimate mission to educate children for the future.''

The school board will conduct a national search for the new superintendent, officials said.

The state's second-largest school district hopes to hire a new superintendent by summer.