January 9, 2013 at 5:24 p.m.
Board discusses superintendent skill set as vetting process begins
Board discusses superintendent skill set as vetting process begins
As of Tuesday, the board had 15 applications and resumes for the superintendent position which will be vacant after current Superintendent Dr. Roger Erdahl retires at the end of June.
To help develop the list of skills it will be looking for while reviewing resumes, the board once again brought in Bruce Miles, a consultant with Big River Group, LLC, based in St. Cloud, Minn.
Miles advised the board it should develop a priority list of skills in order to properly vet the candidates.
The board then brainstormed a list of strengths it feels the new superintendent must have in order to be successful.
There were three skills in particular that the board decided should be emphasized during the hiring process.
One of the most important skills the new superintendent will need is the ability to improve the trust and relationship between the board, administration, staff, and the community, the board determined.
"We need a candidate that can help improve and build trust between all parties - between us (the board), administration, our teachers and staff, and the community," board member Mary Peterson said. "That's got to be key moving forward."
Board President Ron Counter said the district also needs someone who is willing to be the face of the district.
"We need someone that is a good communicator and is willing to be the face of the district," Counter said. "We need someone that the public can go to with questions, concerns, and suggestions and we need a candidate that can communicate effectively the vision and mission of the district."
Another skill the board members said the new superintendent will need is the ability to continue to implement the various initiatives the district has been putting in place the past few years.
"I want someone who will be an instructional leader," board member Judy Conlin said.
Conlin pointed out that the district has many programs in the infancy stage, such as the Response to Intervention initiative and the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports initiative.
"We've seen some positive results so far from these programs and we need someone that can continue those and someone that can help us with any new programs we want to implement," Conlin said.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly given the current fiscal situation the district finds itself in, board members stressed that the new superintendent must have a proven record of fiscal responsibility.
"We need someone with disciplined, systematic approaches to budget management," board member Ray Burgan said.
Conlin concurred.
"I want someone who can develop a plan for fiscal stability, someone who knows the situation our district finds itself in with the state funding formula," she said. "This person also needs to be able to properly communicate the situation to the public and help our community understand the fiscal situation the district is in."
"We need someone knowledgeable in fiscal management," Counter added.
With those skill requirements in hand, Miles will now create a worksheet for the board to use while reviewing the applications and resumes.
The next steps
Once the board has the worksheets, it will begin reviewing the applications and resumes and come up with a list of candidates for initial interviews.
The board hopes to hold the initial interviews Feb. 11 - 15. The public will be allowed to participate at that time.
Once the initial interviews are completed, the board will choose the candidates it wants to bring back for second interviews. Those interviews will be held Feb. 18 - 22.
The board will then run background checks on the finalists Feb. 25 - 27.
After the background checks are complete, as long as nothing out of the ordinary is discovered, the board hopes to make its final selection during a special meeting on Feb. 28.
The final details of the contract will be negotiated after the new superintendent is chosen. The board hopes the contract will be signed in the beginning of March and the new superintendent will start work July 1.
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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