Ina Danko Chosen As Interim Bristol, Va., School Superintendent

By David McGee
Staff Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 2, 2008

BRISTOL, Va. – Ina Danko’s retirement lasted all of 14 hours.

Within hours of completing her last day on the job as principal of Virginia High School, Danko was the city School Board’s unanimous selection on Tuesday to become the division’s interim superintendent. She replaces Doug Arnold, whose tenure ended Monday after just two years on the job.

“I do appreciate the confidence the board of education has placed in me, in offering me this opportunity,” Danko said after accepting the position. “I feel like a torch-bearer today. This is just overwhelming. I’m so excited.”

She began her new duties shortly after the board’s more than two-hour meeting.

The board has been working for the past month to replace Arnold, who announced his retirement plans in May. They decided to offer Danko the job during a closed session late last month, newly chosen board Chairman Ronald Cameron said.

“She had told us if there was anything she could do, she would be available,” Cameron said. “Her name came up in a discussion last month. We talked about some other people, but then came back to her. She’s done everything in education but be a superintendent, and she did a tremendous job at the high school. This is a great way for her to finish her career.”

The board decided it was better to employ an interim superintendent rather than ask members of the current administrative staff to take on additional responsibilities, Cameron said.

“We were afraid they would get behind. This is too important a time of year to have that chair open,” Cameron said. “This is not the time of year to be searching for a superintendent, because almost everybody is under contract. We’ll have a better chance starting in late fall or by the first of the year.”

The search for a permanent replacement is expected to take about six months, Cameron said.

Danko has 40 years of experience in education, working as a teacher, coach and administrator. She has served as principal at the city high school for the past six years, after a year as principal at Virginia Middle School.

A native of Church Hill, Tenn., Danko previously spent 19 years at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport.

She will be paid $95,000 during the upcoming year.

“Bristol Virginia public schools has a history of excellence, and we want to continue on that path to excellence,” Danko said.

In addition to Cameron becoming chairman, the board selected Virginia Goodson as its vice chairwoman, during its annual reorganizational meeting. Tuesday also was the first meeting for recently elected member Tyrone Foster.

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