NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida State College President Ty Handy is a finalist for the presidency of a community college in Kentucky.
Handy is one of three candidates named earlier this month by Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College to take over after the current president retires June 30.
Handy could not be reached for comment Thursday.
In a cover letter that accompanied his resume to the college in Cumberland, Ky., Handy cited his ties to the state as one reason for his interest.
“As a graduate of Western Kentucky University and as chief academic officer of Elizabethtown Community College in the early 1990s, I have lived and worked in the great state of Kentucky (my wife, Kimberly, is a native Kentuckian) and would love to return to a state that has been so important in my development and success as a leader,” Handy wrote in the letter dated March 1.
Handy also outlines his experience, and says he would provide references from people tied to NWF State if he is selected as a finalist for the president’s job.
“When a college president seeks a new position, the process can be demoralizing to the campus he or she may leave,” Handy wrote. “I want to protect NWFSC from this feeling unless I am under very serious consideration.”
Handy took over as president of NWF State in June 2010 after signing a three-year contract. His contract was recently renewed.
Members of the board of trustees expressed surprise at the news. Several of them said Thursday that Handy has performed well.
“I have and continue to enjoy the relationship I have with Ty Handy as the board chair, and I think he’s done an outstanding job,” Brian Pennington said.
Trustees Paul Foster, Rachel Gillis and Marijo Strauss also said they were sad to hear Handy was considering leaving.
“I love Ty Handy,” Foster said. “I think he’s good for the community. I think he’s good for the college.”
Foster said that while he was disappointed with the potential loss, he wasn’t surprised, given the politically charged atmosphere in recent months.
“I think there’s something else in the background,” Foster said.
For at least two months, rumors have circulated that Handy was on his way out.
Handy himself acknowledged the issue more than once, including in a written update to the trustees in March.
In a section called “Rumors, and Rumors of Rumors,” Handy wrote that he had heard Gov. Rick Scott was considering appointing at least three new trustees, and that if that came to pass his job likely was in jeopardy.
“I was informed specifically that one of those interviewed has, at the forefront of his agenda, terminating my contract,” Handy wrote.
Handy said in the update that he had confronted the person who had spoken of ousting him and confirmed that “he would see me replaced if he got on the board.”
The potential trustee’s rationale, Handy wrote, was based on what he perceived as financial missteps made by the Handy — which Handy refuted — and last fall’s data breach incident that exposed the personal information of about 280,000 people.
Handy didn’t name the person who wanted him fired, but Scott did select four new trustees March 21. Three of the four new members — Patrick Byrne, Brad Drake and Michael Flynt — were appointed to terms ending May 31, 2014. C. Wayne Ansley was appointed to serve to May 31, 2015.
Byrne declined to comment on Handy’s potential departure. Flynt, Ansley and Drake wished him well if he chose to leave.
Pennington, the longest-serving trustee, said he was unaware of the college ever having a board member appointed for anything less than a four- year term.
“I thought it was very unusual that the governor would appoint someone for a one-year term,” Pennington said.
Under Florida’s appointment process, board members serve even after their terms expire unless they are “unable or unwilling” to do so, Pennington said.
In the case of the newly replaced trustees, three had terms that ended in May 2010 and one had a term that ended in May 2011.
The terms of the three remaining trustees expire May 31.
The four new trustees were selected after submitting applications, according to John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott’s office.
“Gov. Scott chooses to appoint the people who he thinks will best serve the students of the college,” Tupps wrote in an email to the Daily News.
Anyone can apply for a board appointment, he added.
News of Handy’s possible departure also comes when the trustees are conducting his annual performance review. Each trustee will turn in his or her notes to Pennington today. Pennington said he will compile the results using an evaluation system agreed upon with Handy. Pennington will present the findings to the board before he passes it along to the chancellor of the Florida Division of Colleges.
Pennington said the review would be discussed at the next board meeting May 21.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.