Paper reports Dist. 204 chief is lone finalist for Indiana job

The Greater Clark County school board is set to introduce Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Superintendent Stephen Daeschner as the finalist for the southern Indiana system's superintendent, according to a story posted Tuesday on Courier-Journal.com.

The Louisville, Ky.-based paper is reporting that Daeschner met with about 20 business and community leaders at Jeffersonville City Hall Tuesday morning, Board Vice President Robbie Valentine and school board member Missy DeArk told the group that Daeschner was the finalist.

During a Tuesday night school board meeting, the paper is reporting that Valentine said the board will vote on a new superintendent after public meetings with the finalist next week,

Daeschner was unavailable Tuesday but said on May 4 that he applied to the district to fulfill a passion to help the at-risk students that make up a large number of the district's students.

Greater Clark County Schools, located on the Ohio River, is the largest district in Clark County, operating 22 schools with about 11,000 students.

Of those students, board member Christina Gilkey said Monday, nearly half receive a free or reduced-price lunch. And six of the 22 schools receive Title 1 funds that provide financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of poor children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Logistics also are at play with Daeschner's youngest daughter about to graduate from Waubonsie Valley High School, and because Daeschner calls Louisville - where he previously worked for 14 years - his "second home."