Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-19
FIJI. Boir, So,
Is Sought by
Superintendent
BY JOHN M. McKELwAY

A 68-year-old retired educa-
tor who has made his mark in
the educational field elsewhere
Is the choice of District School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning to fill
the vacant post Of deputy
superintendent.
It was learned today that DR..
Corning had recommended, on
a Temporary basis, the name Of
DR.. Frederick H. Bair, $500
Wisconsin avenue NV, to I'LL
the spot vacant since Octo-
Der 81.
The recommendation APP
parently means DR.. Corning is
of the opinion that the local
school system lacks an individ-
ual who can step into the job.
Last Thursday DR.. Corning
asked the Personnel Committee
Of the Board Of Education to
approve his recommendation
that DR.. Bair become the dep
uty superintendent only on
q temporary basis.
Proposal Rejected
The committee rejected the
Recommendation. Members Of
the committee later told The
Star they could see no value
in appointing a man unac-
quainted with the local system
who would be in the position
lof running - temporarily at
least-the system when DR..
Corning leaves in March.
DR.. Bair told The Star today
he was just a harmless by
stander" in a struggle which
finds DR.. Corning and a ma
jority of the board on opposite
sides.
Now retired, DR.. Bair is q
native of Nebraska and has
headed public school systems
in Colorado Springs. Colo:
Shaker Heights, Ohio, and
Bronxville, N. Y. He also has
held posts within the New York
State Department of Educa-
ton. including chief of cur
riculum.
Worked in Ethiopia
More recently. he spent sew
ieral years in Ethiopia where
he worked with government
officials there in the construc-
ton of a chain Of rural school,
houses.
He said today he was willing
to sit in" as deputy superin-
tendent of the school system
until July 1.-The period at
which his temporary appoint-
ment would expire.
I'm an old firehorse," said
DR.. Bair.
The current snarl over the
position hinges on the fact that
a new superintendent of Dis
trict Schools viii probably not
be selected by the time DR..
Corning retires.
Most board members feel that
when the new superintendent
is selected he should have the
opportunity to select his own
lieutenants.
Choice Before Board
This leaves the Board of Edu-
cation in the position Of either
approving an individual recon-
mended by DR.. Corning to serve
temporarily as deputy superin-
tendent. or of waiting until DR..
Corning retires and appointing
an acting superintendent"
who would step down when the
new superintendent is found.
DR.. Corning is not willing,
apparently, to select an indi-
vidual connected with the local
system to serve as deputy SUI
perintendent-either tempo
rarily or permanently.
A second top post is also
vacant. that Of chief budget
officer of the system. DR.. Corn-
ing has made no recommends
ton in connection with this
position.
Meanwhile, DIR. Corning is
repeatedly handling all three
ijobS.
Two board members told The
Star they would be willing to
go along with the temporary
appointment Of DR.. Bair-if
only to have someone holding
the rudder' after DR.. Corning
leaves. -
But other members point out
the board has the authority
to appoint an acting superin-
tendent" at that time to fill the
gap.