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District makes two administrative moves: New superintendent, CFO officially hired by board
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
Two months after being named the lone finalist for the Plano ISD superintendent position, Richard Matkin was officially hired Tuesday night.
Matkin, who joined PISD in 2001 as the associate superintendent for business services and chief financial officer, has served as interim superintendent since the Jan. 31 retirement of Doug Otto, who led the district for 17 years. Matkin is a former teacher and coach, who has held finance positions in five other area school districts including Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Duncanville.
"Let me assure you that there is going to be full engagement. We are going to solve the problems that we have that are in the community ..." Matkin said after being officially hired. "We are going to be community connected and we are going to make sure the most important aspect of the district is our kids, and the fastest way to get to them is through the teachers. So the teachers need to be the No. 1 focus in what we do."
When Matkin was announced as the lone finalist on April 12, Board President Tammy Richards said even though the board conducted a nationwide search and evaluated 28 applicants, the choice was clear.
"As we went through the interviewing process, we realized there was one person who could lead this district and that was Richard Matkin," she said. "He has the heart of an educator. He cares about teaching and kids. The fact that he actually served as an Algebra I teacher and a coach shows that he is dedicated to education. We are thrilled that he is going to be at the head of Plano ISD."
Matkin was given a three-year contract, but district spokeswoman Lesley Range-Stanton said the financial terms of the contract were not immediately available.
To replace Matkin, the board unanimously voted to hire Stephen Fortenberry, who has served as the CFO at McKinney ISD since 2003. Prior to his time in McKinney, Fortenberry worked at three other districts, including a stint as an accountant and assistant director of finance at PISD from 1983-1987.
"We are getting a very special business service person and someone that I know will create the kind of trust we currently have," Matkin said, adding that he has known Fortenberry for many years. "We are very excited to have Steve on board."
Fortenberry is a 1981 graduate of Texas Tech University and will begin work in Plano ISD on July 2.
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