SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

The school district posted this update today with information on the next public forums related to the superintendent search and the notification that the next school board meeting on October 13 will be held at Columbia High School:

The Board of Education is pleased by the thoughtfulness and volume of community input to the superintendent search process.  Approximately 650 online surveys have been completed and there have been 200 participants involved in interviews, focus groups and open forums.  

There are two remaining opportunities to provide input to the development of the leadership profile and search criteria that will be used to identify and evaluate superintendent candidates:

Monday, October 6th in the District Meeting Room, 525 Academy St, Maplewood

Elementary & Middle School Parents focus group 7:00-8:15 pm Open Forum, open to the community 8:15 - 9:30 pm

and

Thursday, October 9th in the Columbia High School Library

Teachers and Support Staff 3:45 - 4:45

Middle & High School parents focus group 7:00-8:15 pm Open Forum, open to the community 8:15 - 9:30 pm.

On Monday, October 13th the Board will open in public session in the Columbia High School library and move immediately to closed session to review the leadership profile and finalize the superintendent search criteria developed based on community input.  Following the closed session, the Board will return to public session at 8:30 pm.  When the Board returns to public session, Dr. Nunery of HYA Associates will give an overview of the leadership profile and search criteria. There will then be an opportunity for hearings from individuals and delegations (public speaks).  This will be followed by a discussion and vote by the Board on the superintendent search criteria.

On Monday, November 10th the Board will meet in executive session to select the candidates that will be invited for a first round of interviews.  

The first and second round of interviews will take place in December.  The Board will invite the 3 BOE candidates that win in the November 4th BOE election to observe these interview sessions and participate in the pursuant Board discussions about candidate qualifications.  However, only current Board members will be involved in selecting the candidates that return for the second round of interviews.  The identity of the candidates participating in the first and second round of interviews will be kept confidential.

After the Board of Education Reorganization meeting in early January, the Board will select the  finalist(s), conduct further interviews and approve a new superintendent.  The new superintendent will start on or before July 1, 2015

We are grateful to everyone who has provided input and thank the community for their cooperation in this process.

Beth Daugherty