Direction in the superintendent search was given by the Yuma School District-1 Board of Education, Monday during a workshop.
All five board members were in attendance — President John Deering, and Lindsey Galles, Terri Cooper, Heath Roundtree and Tyson Brown.
Randy Zila with the consultant firm McPherson & Jacobsen, LLC, visited with the board about preferred qualifications. McPherson & Jacobsen had conducted online and public surveys about one month ago. Zila noted that the budget was a key issue with respondents.
He had the board members individually share what they thought are the important qualifications and characteristics they want in a superintendent. (Current Superintendent Dianna Chrisman is retiring at the end of the current school year after 10 years with Yuma-1.)
Board members were in agreement that having experience with school finance, knowing rural communities, familiar with educational laws, and visibility in the community and on the school campuses were key. Being bilingual in Spanish, is a preferred option, but not a requirement. Board members also would prefer a candidate with an education background, as well as someone who would help guide principals in improving test scores.
An ability to recruit and retain staff, as well as students in a time of dwindling enrollment, also was mentioned. Having an education background was mentioned as a quality that would help the superintendent better relate to teachers and staff
Zila said what he has gathered from the board will be included in the posting for the job opening.
The board and him also discussed compensation. Zila said his research shows that similar-sized districts, with similar demographics, pay roughly $150,000 per year to superintendents, and also provide health insurance for family members if there are any. He also noted the $150,000 reflects superintendents that have been in place for awhile, adding that a better salary parameter tends to attract better candidates.
The board discussed a salary and benefits range to be included in the posting of the job opening. Zila was questioned what to do if the board found none of the applicants to be suitable, resulting in a possible rethinking of the compensation package. He said in that instance he could help the district find an interim superintendent while also reopening the search for a permanent one
He outlined the timeline for the board. The position will be posted on December 16, with a February 5 closing of applications. Zila and board will meet in executive session during the February 24 regular meeting for him to provide a list of top-tier candidates. It is hoped that at that time a list of finalists will be released publicly.
Zila also asked the board about whether it wanted to have a community ad hoc committee hold its own interviews of finalists, besides the board, or have a public meet-and-greet where citizens can meet and visit with the finalists.
The board leaned toward the latter, citing concerns if the board leaned toward another finalist than the ad hoc committee, particularly since the board will have more details about the finalists than the citizen committee.