The Oklahoma City Public Schools has a new superintendent, at least temporarily. The school board voted unanimously this morning to hire Dave Lopez as the interim superintendent for the state's largest school district.
His salary was set at $160,000. Lopez is currently Oklahoma's Secretary of Commerce and worked as a telephone company executive before entering public service.
Last week, the state Board of Education waived the certification requirements for the Oklahoma City schools' next superintendent. That decision made it possible for the local school board to appoint Lopez.
He told The Oklahoman newspaper he would have to step down from this commerce secretary position if he was named interim superintendent.
Current superintendent Karl Springer's last day on the job is August 30. The school board has hired a firm to conduct a national search for a permanent superintendent.
