109 Promises Open Process To Hire Superintendent

The search for a new superintendent to replace will be an open and participatory process, according to information on the District’s website.

The first step in the process will be the public interviews of three search firms at 5 p.m. Monday as part of the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting. After the interviews, there will be an opportunity for public comment.

Those interviews were originally planned for an executive session before and after the public portion of the meeting. A change was made earlier this week. “There was no reason not to,” Board President Ellen London told Patch Monday.

After the interviews Monday, the Board plans to hire the firm in August. After that the firm will conduct community research to develop a candidate profile, according to the website.

“The search firm will lead some sort of ‘listening’ program to reach out to the community,” a letter sent to the District families said. “That research will lead to the development of a clear, specific profile of the best candidate for superintendent.”

Later in the fall, the firm will screen candidates. By winter of 2013, final candidates will be screened and a new superintendent announced, according to the letter and website. The new leader will start work July 1 next year.

On Monday, a group of parents began circulating petitions asking for a delay in the search until the April election when four of the Board’s seven seats will be filled by the voters.  .

Of the candidates potentially up for reelection, London is undecided about another term along with Debbie Muller and Ron Worth. One member, Mike Rosenbaum, will not run.

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