Shaker School Board Special Meeting on Superintendent Search

School Board Special Meeting Report
Monday, November 19th

The meeting commenced at 6:00 pm with all of the school board members in attendance.  Also in attendance was Treasurer Bryan Christman.

Resolution to Retain Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA)
The board approved a resolution authorizing the board president to "enter into a Letter of Agreement with HYA in accordance with terms as negotiated between HYA and the Board of Education."  The agreement calls for a consulting fee of $19,500 plus expenses for travel and advertising to be paid by the district.  The website for HYA is here

Introduction of HYA Search Consultant, Dr. Marvin Edwards
Dr Edwards is listed as a Senior Associate on the HYA website.  He began working with HYA after his retirement as school superintendent in Elgin, Illinois in 2002. A brief resume is here.  Dr. Edwards gave a brief presentation on how HYA conducts superintendent searches.  His presentation largely followed the "Comprehensive Search Process" described on the HYA website here.  The proposed process is as follows:

• Planning Worksession with the School Board - to be completed tonight in executive session.
• Board & Community Input Sessions - typically done 3 weeks after the worksession with the board. Two individuals from HYA will spend 2 days in the district conducting "focus groups" of internal and external stakeholders, leaders throughout the community, and a public "town-hall" meeting. This is tentatively scheduled for December 13 &14th. This information and an online survey in early December will be used to develop a "Leadership Profile" with the desired characteristics for a new superintendent.
• The "Leadership Profile" is Presented to the School Board in a Public Session - about 2 weeks after all the above information is collected.  Anticipated to be early January 2013.  This detailed position description will be used to advertise the position both in Ohio (Ohio School Boards Association, Buckeye Association of School Administrators) and nationally (Education Week, American Association of School Administrators).
• Presentation of the Slate of Candidates to the School Board - six to ten weeks after identification of criteria desired in the new superintendent and position advertisement. This is an evaluation on paper of the applicant pool.  From this pool the board will pick 5 candidates who posses the desired criteria to invite for interview.
• Interview of the Semifinalists - within one to two weeks of presentation of the slate of candidates. The board will interview 5 semifinalists in executive session. In consultation with HYA the board will reduce the 5 semifinalists to 3 finalists.
• Interview of the Finalists - the 3 finalists come for a second interview.  This is done publicly, finalists appear in district, participate in specific activities and tour the district.  The public can attend activities but is not involved in the interview process.  At the end of the day the candidate will have dinner with the board members followed by a second and final interview in executive session.  HYA recommends that the 3 finalists come in over 3 consecutive days and that the board deliberate immediately after.
• Selection of New Superintendent - when the board identifies the preferred candidate, HYA will organize a site visit to the candidate's current district, a deep background check and will assist in contract negotiations.  Goal is to finalize and announce the selection within one to two weeks of final interviews.  Dr. Edwards estimated that the entire process will take 4 to 4½ months with the goal of having the new superintendent in place no later than July 1, 2013.

Executive Session
Executive sessions are not open to the public and are permitted by law for a limited number of purposes.  The board recessed for executive session at 6:28 pm "to discuss compensation and other confidential matters." This is the board planning worksession described above.  President Sutherland specifically cited Ohio Revised Code section 121.22 (G)(1) as justification for the executive session.

The posted November 19th agenda is here.

Want more information?    Go to oneshaker.org for more information about ONE Shaker and the Shaker Schools.  Subscribe to ONE Shaker School News here