Capistrano Unified District Supt. Says He Won’t Seek Similar Job in Kentucky

School Supt. James A. Fleming announced Monday that he has decided to remain with the 30,000-student school district and will not seek a similar job in Kentucky.

“As I told the Capistrano (Unified School District) board and many others in the community, I have no desire to leave this district or community,” Fleming said in a statement.

Fleming had interviewed with the Jefferson County Public Schools and said a position with the 93,000-student district was worth examining.

Fleming said he withdrew his name from consideration from the Louisville district Monday morning.

Capistrano school board President Marlene Draper said she is not surprised that Fleming was being considered for the Kentucky job, given his national reputation.

“We are very pleased he is staying,” Draper said.

In his statement to the board, Fleming said: “The vision and leadership of the school board, along with the support of the community and the competence and dedication of the staff, combined to provide a bright outlook for public education in south Orange County--once we get beyond the current statewide fiscal crisis and the distracting effect of the looming voucher initiative.”