One administrator for the three Incline public schools. That's a possibility the Washoe County School District is contemplating, according to an interview Tuesday with district deputy superintendent Rick Borba.

When John Clark retires at the end of this school year as Incline High School's principal, he may be replaced by an overarching mini-superintendent.

The prospect of one leader for our three public schools is exciting because the administrator would provide one voice when communicating Incline's concerns to the Washoe County School District.

But, just as important, it's something with which the Incline Village and Crystal Bay community should be involved.

We encourage the board of trustees and WCSD administrators — namely Superintendent Heath Morrison and Borba — to open the selection process as much as possible to the general public.

The administrator will shoulder plenty of responsibility, including the charge of successfully implementing the International Baccalaureate curriculum.

For that reason alone, the public should have a chance to review and vet the candidates and offer input to the district's decision makers. Incline's voice must be heard in the selection of someone for such a broad and weighty position.

Like it or not, this is a person Incline will hang its hopes on to reverse or at least stabilize the decade old trend of dropping enrollment. It's the person we'll look to for answers on student achievement. The candidate also takes on a mantle previously assumed by a collective of administrators at the three separate school sites.

The hire is a decision with too much at stake to trust to the district alone — Incline must have a say in the matter.