From what I understand the top choice turned down job due to change in health status of some of his family members. I don't blame him for that and I don't blame anyone for offering a man with that kind of character the job.
Hiring any employee is a big deal in public schools a lot of hurdles have to be cleared.
Maybe not, it's possible he read channel 29 message board posts by members of the community a couple of years ago, and we he found out they didn't really have a hot tub in the teachers' work room, he hit the road.