Board president: 'Noonan committed to coming'

Although a contract for the new superintendent hasn't been officially signed, Douglas County School Board president Teri Jamin feels confident that Lisa Noonan is heading this way.

"I feel she is committed to coming," Jamin said Monday. "We're just working out the details of the contract."

On May 17, board members voted 6-1 to offer Noonan, chief academic officer of Washoe County Schools, the superintendency vacated by Carol Lark last year. Noonan's contract, still in draft phase, is estimated to be three years in duration at about $130,000 a year, plus benefits.

"Last Friday, we met face-to-face. We were trying to schedule a special school board meeting," Jamin said.

She said both parties are shooting for June 24, though the date is subject to change. Noonan's contract must be submitted to the entire board for approval before final signatures.

Although she hasn't officially accepted, Noonan has mentioned looking at houses in the area, Jamin said.

"She had interviewed in Michigan and was invited back for a second interview, but she didn't go," Jamin said. "Douglas was her first choice."

If everything goes according to plan, Jamin said, Noonan's start date will be Aug. 1.

"I feel really good about it," Jamin said. "She's excited about coming here. It's a full-circle thing. She started in Douglas, and now she's coming back."

In the early 1990s, Noonan was assistant principal of Jacks Valley Elementary School. She then went on to have a distinguished administrative career in Washoe County.

Jamin said Noonan was both flexible and patient during the superintendent selection process. When the school board shifted away from its initial two finalists, Dave Jensen and Mary Bull, Noonan was willing to come back for a second interview.

"I think she's enthusiastic about working with the board and getting the opportunity to address the academic achievement that we want to see happen in the district," Jamin said.