Thursday, November 12, 2009
School board to begin interviewing superintendent candidates
Details about the semifinalists, including how many there are, are not being made public, the interim superintendent says.
But just how many, and who they are, is still under wraps. The school board spent more than six hours Tuesday evening poring over candidate profiles and finalizing questions to ask those they selected to meet.
On Wednesday, board members were mum about the decisions made in that meeting.
When the board first began its search, members pledged to be as transparent as possible. Board members sent all questions on the matter to board Chairman Wendell Jones, who did not return multiple phone calls.
The board hopes to fill the superintendent's post, vacant since Tiffany Anderson left in June, by the end of the year.
Walt Shannon, the district's assistant superintendent of operations, has been interim superintendent.
Shannon said Wednesday that the board's decision is being done behind closed doors because it is a personnel decision. Under state law, public bodies can choose to keep personnel decisions private -- but they aren't required to do so.
Shannon pointed out that the board used a public meeting to choose the search firms and to choose questions asked of candidates for superintendent.
"It will become a little bit more of an open process when they narrow down the candidates," he said.
The board's timeline suggests a public meeting with finalists the week of Nov. 23.
Board members plan to ask candidates visiting next week questions such as how they resolve conflict, their thoughts on pressing issues in public education, how that person would stay attuned to division problems and how they have partnered successfully with higher education and the business community.
Search firm Ray and Associates, which the board hired in June for a base price of $19,500, helped the board make its decisions Tuesday. The firm accepted applications for the superintendent's post through Oct. 27 and brought the group of candidates to the board.
The consultants outlined the candidates they thought best fit the board's profile.
In August, the board members said they want a leader who is trustworthy, open, committed to presenting a positive image of the district and who can help improve student performance.
They have said the next superintendent does not have to have prior superintendent experience. Anderson did not.
