USD 235 Superintendent/principal interviews to begin soon

The USD 235 Board of Education is moving one step closer to hiring a new leader for the district.

Officials said a decision will be made for the superintendent/junior high-senior high principal position by Jan. 25, according to information provided by the search advisory team.

Board members met with the advisory team Monday during the monthly board meeting at the junior high school.

The team, from Pittsburg State University and the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center also known as Greenbush, is leading the board in the search for a new combined position of superintendent/junior high/senior high school principal.

Howard Smith, professor of leadership studies at PSU, along with Bart Swartz and Steve Parson with Greenbush, went into a 45-minute executive session with the board.

Candidates who applied for the position were discussed among the team and the board using pre-determined qualifications and their potential fit to the district, Smith told the Tribune.

The number of candidates discussed were not released by Smith.

The search advisory team is charged with screening the candidates and evaluating them for possible interviews with the board. The interviews are tentatively scheduled for Jan. 18-20.

"Candidates will come separate days and maybe into the following week, depending on schedules," Smith told the Tribune. "Once we know the finalists, we'll put together a press release to distribute."

Next week the finalists will meet with staff, district personnel and media, Smith said. There will be a tour of the district's facilities. At this time, USD 235 teachers will be allowed to ask questions of the candidates.

There will be an open meet-and-greet with the community for each candidate, followed by the interview by the board members.

Qualifications, requirements

The qualifications for candidates were determined following meetings with staff, parents and community members in late November and early December 2015.

There were nine qualifications the district is looking for, according to the application for the position provided by Smith.

The leader should: understand the dynamics of serving a rural community; be visibly involved throughout the district and community; work in a collaborative manner; be a capable strategic planner; lead development of curriculum and instruction; set high expectations for students; address fiscal issues, especially budgeting, facilities and the current bond project the school has embarked on; exhibit outstanding communication skills; and have a high degree of integrity and honesty.

The requirements for the superintendent position are kindergarten through 12th grade teaching related experience; administrative experience; recent education experience; a valid Kansas district administrator licensure or be eligible; and must live within the boundaries of the district.

History

The superintendent/junior high-senior high principal search was necessitated by the sudden resignation of Randy Rockhold Aug. 19 following his 13-year tenure in Uniontown. The board hired Jan Hedges of Fort Scott as interim superintendent Aug. 25.

In November, the board hired the advisory team to begin the search for the new leader in the district.

Other business

* West Bourbon Elementary School Principal Tyler Jackman gave a report on repairing the lights on the school parking lots for security and safety purposes.

* SchoolMessenger is the new communication system for the district, Jackman said. It will be linked to the school's PowerSchool system.

* Chinese acrobats will perform Jan. 28 at WBE.

* CORE reading curriculum has been ordered for third through sixth grade teacher review. A survey conducted in November and December indicated there is buy-in and need for an updated reading curriculum, Jackman said.

* Both Jackman and Hedges gave administrative reports of the Greenbush training, "Color Code," held during the Jan. 4 district inservice. The training was on managing in stressful situations, Hedges said.

* Jackman said during the afternoon segment of inservice, WBE teachers worked on end-of-year outcomes in reading for each grade.

* WBE is getting audited for Title service, Jackman said.

* Hedges said the junior and senior high staff worked on scheduling issues and state assessment training during the last half of the inservice.

* Quarterly, all school student computers will be checked for wear and tear, Hedges said.