Schools
Cedar Falls School Board Chooses Search Firm as Process of Replacing Mike Wells Moves Forward
The school board is searching for a new superintendent after Mike Wells' resignation.
The Cedar Falls School Board chose McPherson and Jacobson of Omaha, Neb. as a search firm at a Monday night work session as the district begins the process of finding a new superintendent.
The search follows first-year Superintendent Mike Wells' resignation. Wells resigned, effective at the end of June, rather than be terminated by the board, which decided not to renew his one-year contract.
The base fee for the firm is $11,500 plus expenses.
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A search firm can help the board find superintendent candidates and guide the interview and decision-making process. In the last search, the board worked with consultant Dave Else. Cedar Falls School Board secretary Doug Nefzger said Else's fee for that search was $10,119.19.
The board also heard from Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, and School Exec Connect of Highland Park, Ill. Ray and Associates base fee is $9000 and School Exec Connects is $15,500.
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McPherson representatives said the search process could begin as soon as possible.
They offer a guarantee - if the superintendent leaves for any reason within the first two years on the job, the firm will lead another search and only charge for expenses.
Firm representative Tom Jacobson said he did not think Cedar Falls' situation would be too great of a challenge in attracting new candidates.
"We will share those concerns with the candidates. There are going to be some people who say, let me at it, because that’s what I do well," he said, saying some candidates seek out positions they think will be challenging.
"To say this nicely, your situation is not anywhere close to some that we have seen," he said.
Read more:
Should Cedar Falls Get a Guarantee with Next Superintendent?
Cedar Falls School Board Takes First Steps in Search for a New Superintendent
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