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The superintendent’s not going to “cut and run,” if he decides to take the job offered him heading up the Nevada state school system. 

“He’ll make himself available to help out in the transition,” School Board President Terry Doran said Monday. 

If the superintendent decides to leave – Nevada schools has given him several days to make his decision – the school board will take the steps necessary to fill the position, starting with a closed-door board “personnel” meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday At that time, the board will be talking formally to the superintendent about his plans and, at the same time, telling him they’d like him to stay, Doran said. 

McLaughlin turned down an offer by the school district in Salem, Ore. and was a runner-up for San Francisco’s top post in May.  

He may still not be able to give a definitive answer on Wednesday, since there may be contract negotiations between him and the Nevada schools, Doran said.  

But nevertheless the board will forge ahead on the first lap of the selection process – putting into place an interim superintendent. 

“We may select someone from within as interim superintendent, someone we’ve worked with before.”  

Asked if that includes Cliff Wong, retired school administrator who stepped in as interim superintendent before McLaughlin’s appointment, Doran responded: “His name may come up.” 

The board may hire a firm to do a statewide or nationwide search, said School Board member Shirley Issel and it will be charged with setting up a process to get public input into the selection. “It is the school board’s responsibility to hire the superintendent,” she said. 

If the superintendent decides to go to Nevada, he’ll start Feb. 1, 2001, but would likely be spending some days in January there, Doran said.