DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — The Douglas County School District (DCSD) Board of Education has chosen a new sole finalist for the position of interim superintendent.
The board voted 5-0 (two board members were absent) at a special meeting Thursday to name Corey Wise the sole finalist, according to a release from the district.
Wise is serving his 25th year in DCSD, the release said. He has worked as a teacher and an assistant principal, and was the founding principal of Legend High School. He is currently DCSD's Executive Director of Schools for the East Highlands Ranch Region and Alternative Education, according to the release.
Wise lives in Parker with his wife and two children, the release said.
In alignment with state statute, the release said, the board will now move into a 14-day waiting period to continue vetting Wise before officially naming him interim superintendent.
“I love Douglas County,” Wise said in the release. “I appreciate and value all of the people who make up the Douglas County School District. We are going to work hard to continue to make us better, to bring in the voices needed, listen to them, and bring the community together to find ways to make the school district stronger. It’s not about the past, it’s not about right now, it’s really about what we’re going to do moving forward.”
The board's original choice, Dr. Damon Brown, informed the board Sunday he didn't want the job, a day after he was named the sole finalist.
Outgoing superintendent Thomas Tucker was placed on paid administrative leave on Sept. 2 as the district investigates him for allegations of "workplace discrimination," according to a statement from DCSD.
Tucker submitted his resignation on Sept. 8. That resignation is effective Sept. 30.
The school district initially declined to comment when Colorado Community Media first reported the investigation on Sept. 11, but the district provided a statement Sept. 15 confirming it had received a complaint from a district employee on Sept. 1.
"Per DCSD policy and consistent with best practice, the board of education immediately placed Dr. Tucker on paid administrative leave and retained a third-party investigator to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the allegations," the statement said. "Because this is a personnel matter regarding an ongoing investigation, we cannot share additional details at this time."
This article draws from previous reporting by 9NEWS.
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