Central Bucks Retains Intermediate Unit To Find Next Superintendent

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School Board on Feb. 13 voted unanimously to retain the services of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to find the district's next superintendent.

Under the agreement, the I.U. will provide consultation services to the district to find and then select a qualified individual to serve as superintendent of the 17,500 student school district, the fourth largest public school district in Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Reading.

Under the agreement, the I.U. will have between now and June 30 to find a qualified candidate for the job although the deadline of June 30 may be extended by mutual consent.

As part of its work, the I.U. will facilitate meetings with the board and key stakeholders to determine vital issues facing the district and develop insight on key attributes desired in a new superintendent; develop and carry out a community survey to gather insight on key issues facing the district and attributes desired in a new superintendent; and develop a job posting including a job description.

The I.U. will also be responsible for advertising the posting in national, state, and regional publications and websites for purposes of attracting highly qualified candidates; establish an online application portal through the Bucks I.U. website for interested applicants to apply; and develop the practices the board will use to interview candidates.

The Bucks I.U. team will facilitate the creation of all interview questions, protocols, and tasks for every interview during every round of the process and assist the board in evaluating which candidates will advance to the interview process, according to the agreement. It also will organize
and coordinate the logistics of scheduling and facilitating every interview during each round of the process.

While the Bucks I.U. will oversee the process, it will not select which applicants advance to the interview phase. That will be the responsibility of the nine members of the Central Bucks School Board.

Once finalists are identified, the Bucks IU will check the references of any applicant selected to advance in the search process, and coordinate the introduction of the final candidate to the district solicitor to begin contract negotiations. It will also coordinate a community forum where community members will meet and hear from the finalist and submit questions for the candidate to answer.

The district will not be charged for the work since consultation is considered part of the services regularly and routinely provided by the Bucks I.U. to the county's public school districts. The district, however, will reimburse the I.U. for all out-of-pocket costs associated with the search including the costs of advertising, marketing materials, postage, and travel. These expenses are estimated to be approximately $1,500 with total costs not to exceed $7,000.

In January, the school board appointed retired West Chester Area School District Superintendent Dr. Jim Scanlon to a six-month term as interim superintendent.

Scanlon - a Central Bucks East graduate and a former principal at Doyle Elementary School - is leading the administrative helm of the district while the board searches for a permanent superintendent. He replaced assistant superintendent Dr. Charles Malone who was appointed by the former board to fill the role following the departure of Superintendent Dr. Abram Lucabaugh.