Questions raised over educator’s background

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003 | 9:23 a.m.

One of the finalists for the northwest region superintendent position in the Clark County School District is an Arizona educator questioned by police in connection with harassing letters sent to a woman with whom he has acknowledged having an extramarital affair.

James Buchanan, superintendent of the Tempe Union High School District for the past 13 years, has confirmed his finalist status to several Arizona newspapers. He declined to comment to the Sun when contacted Tuesday.

The Clark County School District typically does not identify out-of-district finalists for these types of positions, but Superintendent Carlos Garcia acknowledged Buchanan's status because of the prior published reports, he said.

The other four finalists for the northwest region position include three current district employees and an individual from outside the district, Garcia said. He declined to name the out-of-district finalist without first getting the individual's permission.

The northwest region superintendent is responsible for 38 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and seven high schools. The salary starts $83,544 and goes up to $111,936 depending on experience and tenure with the district.

The in-district finalists are Billie Rayford and Carla Steinforth, both northwest region assistant superintendents, and Lauren Kohut-Rost, a southeast region assistant superintendent. All three women have worked in the Clark County School District for more than 20 years.

As for Buchanan, his affair with the mother of a student in the district he oversees came to light last spring after the woman filed a restraining order against him. The governing board of Buchanan's district launched its own investigation using an outside attorney, who reported the woman's allegations of harassment were "unfounded," according to news accounts.

Phoenix Police Sgt. Randy Force said Buchanan was first interviewed in September about a handful of harassing letters the woman says she received at her home.

"He was interviewed and denied sending them," Force said Tuesday.

The only reason police spoke with Buchanan was because of the woman's claim that he was behind the letters and a series of hang-up telephone calls, Force said.

Police are currently analyzing the letters using a variety of tests and checking telephone records, Force said. Buchanan agreed to submit a handwriting sample for analysis, according to the police report.

Buchanan was up front about the extramarital affair and ensuing personal and professional fallout, Garcia said.

"To his credit he disclosed it in the interview," Garcia said.

Garcia said he was not aware of the ongoing criminal investigation by Phoenix police.

"We obviously would have to consider those factors as part of the overall candidate process," Garcia said.

The five finalists are currently undergoing background checks, and an announcement of the appointment will likely come after the holidays, Garcia said.

If a candidate from outside the district is selected, the Clark County School Board would have to approve the hiring, Garcia said.

In general anyone who seeks to work with children should expect to face significant scrutiny, said School Board member Susan Brager-Wellman.

"You need a clean past, present and future," Brager-Wellman said.