Super search is a critical task for trustees

Christine Donnell believes the stakes could not be increased when a district is faced with changing its superintendent.

Donnell, a former superintendent of the Meridian Joint School District, now operates as an Idaho School Boards Association advisor who assists regional school boards with superintendent searches.

“Often college boards comprehend it’s possibly the most critical choice they can make for their college district and local community,” Donnell mentioned. “The superintendent is, in fact, CEO of the college district.”

Karen Echeverria

This college year, a handful of Idaho districts like Blaine County, Garden Valley and Nampa are in the process of finding new superintendents.

Whilst the procedure may possibly be intimidating for volunteer college board members – specially if the district is faced with changing a longtime superintendent – authorities say trustees need to establish priorities from the outset.

“The initial issue to do is sit down as a board and have a conversation with the board about what it is you are hunting for,” ISBA Executive Director Karen Echeverria said.

Whilst it’s effortless to announce: “We’re looking for the best,” Echeverria and Donnell explained there are numerous concerns to weigh and the method is a lot more tough and pricey than many assume.

• Does the board want somebody with a robust training background who could support boost academic functionality and bond with teachers?


• Would the district benefit most from a person who is a dynamic leader who is capable of building a long-phrase strategic strategy?


• Is it essential to pick somebody with a powerful monetary background who can support the district emerge from a spending budget crisis?

“Then you want to craft a occupation description for a superintendent who meets what ever needs you’re actually hunting for,” Echeverria mentioned.

Even though assistant superintendents may possibly be competent and ready for a promotion, Echeverria and Donnell explained it is crucial to stage a complete search and interview method anyway.

That said, the in-residence candidate or assistant superintendent might nonetheless rise to the top of the listing of candidates to become a best successor.

Donnell served as assistant superintendent in charge of human resources and negotiations when she was promoted in 1998. And in Kuna, former assistant superintendent Wendy Johnson ascended to the best spot ahead of this school yr.

She informed Idaho Education News in August the move is “an extraordinary challenge,” but the district’s culture of teamwork and her experience smoothed the transition.

“My position feels new, but then it doesn’t,” Johnson mentioned. “I’ve currently been in so a lot of conditions that I have fantastic experience.”

Sometimes, district officials use the phrase “national search” when describing their hunt. Although district leaders usually seem out of state, “national search” is a bit of a misnomer.

“That search is normally targeted in the surrounding states,” Echeverria stated. “The likelihood of drawing someone in from New York is slim to none.”

Inside of Idaho, the situations distinct districts encounter when changing a superintendent differ drastically. Nampa is the third largest district in the state, and past Superintendent Gary Larsen left in September 2012, in the midst of a financial crisis. Then Interim Superintendent Thomas Michaelson stepped in, but resigned unexpectedly in May possibly. Next up, Nampa Substantial College Principal Pete Kohler was named interim superintendent even though the board searches for a more long lasting leader.

Nampa has convened a search committee comprised of education stakeholders and local community leaders. The group is staging month-to-month public meetings, and will search for candidates by way of Jan. 9.

They hope to have finalists up for consideration early up coming 12 months.

“We’re going to commit the time to really recognize what priorities the local community sees,” Nampa search co-chairwoman Molly Lenty said

Randy Schrader

In Garden Valley, a single of the state’s smallest districts, Superintendent Randy Schrader gave board members notice this month that he intends to finish the school 12 months and then retire. Schrader stated he gave his observe early so he could assist with the search and potentially present his successor the ropes.

“Obviously, a single of the very best conditions is where a superintendents provides the board adequate time to do a thorough search and make the decisions about exactly where they want to go with a superintendent,” Echeverria said. “We know that is not often the situation, and often items happen swiftly.”

Donnell said it is frequently crucial for board members to have help with a search. Even though board members are most likely to know the good and adverse characteristics of an in-home candidate, they may only discover the very good items about an outdoors applicant.

“Unfortunately what you see and what you hear is not constantly what you get,” Donnell said.

Super search is a critical task for trustees