By Abigail Roberts
The Lincoln County Board of Education met Tuesday night to discuss the superintendent search process before going into executive session to hold the first screening committee meeting.
During the special-called meeting, Tim Eaton of the Kentucky School Board Association reviewed the responsibilities of the screening committee.
The screening committee is made up of six people: board member Tyler McGuffey; principal Julia Duncan; teacher Lezli Adams; teacher Dakota Lunsford; classified staff member Tracy Elliott; and parent representative Cortney Reed.
The process for the screening committee includes three individual meetings and then one joint meeting with the school board to make formal recommendations for Lincoln County Superintendent and answer questions from the board.
During the first meeting, the screening committee will receive applications and review procedures for initial screening. The second meeting will consist of considering candidates for reference checking using initial screening procedures, assigning candidates to reference check and understanding reference check procedures. During the third meeting, the screening committee will develop a list of candidates to recommend to the board from all of the information received.
“This is kind of an unusual time to do a superintendent search. We usually do those in the spring because superintendent contracts usually end June 3 and a new superintendent would take over July 1,” Eaton said Tuesday. “So you have a unique situation because your superintendent is leaving Jan. 1.”
Eaton provided details about the 10 candidates who have applied for the superintendent positions which includes: one current superintendent; four central office employees; four principals; and one member of an educational organization.
There were nine male applicants and one female applicant. Of those, nine are in state and one is out of state. The out of state candidate is from southeast Asia, Eaton said.
Eaton said the screening committee will hold a joint meeting with the school board and make recommendations on Nov. 9. Eaton stressed the importance of the screening committee maintaining confidentiality.
“It just doesn’t work as well, this is a small community, but there’s always some presumptions out there, it happens everywhere I go,” Eaton said.
The school board’s criteria for a superintendent candidate includes being an experienced educational leader that builds relationships with all stakeholders.
“The board is looking for a visible, relationship-driven leader that focuses on academic achievement and accountability,” the criteria states. “The successful candidate should be committed to supporting and developing administrators. The superintendent must collaborate and be transparent with all board members, managing daily operations while driving long-term planning for all students.”
Fiscal and operational responsibility is required to adequately maximize all federal, state and local funds, while effectively managing budgets, staffing allocations and facility needs, according to the criteria.
Board member Gloria Sneed said she has two preferences for a superintendent including being a parent who understands the obstacles of being a parent, and also that they have past experience as a principal of a school.
“I want to thank you for doing this,” Sneed said to the screening committee.
Board member Phillip Coots echoed Sneed’s comments.
“Thank you for taking this responsibility,” Coots said. “It is a huge responsibility considering what happened last time and the amount of publicity it received…This is a huge responsibility and our district is in a situation that we need a good, strong leader who can come in and lead from the top down all the way to every single person in our district and to parents in our community.”
Board member Jennifer Broadbent said this screening process will be different from the last superintendent search the previous school board performed, which did not choose a candidate who was recommended by the screening committee.
“I know this time it’s going to be different than the last go-around, screening committee, y’all’s decision is going to be a big factor in our decision, you know, as opposed to how everybody knows it went,” Broadbent said.
Sneed said during the last superintendent search she refused to vote for anyone the screening committee did not recommend, and she stands by that decision for this current process as well.
“I will not vote for anyone that you all do not recommend,” Sneed said. “You put the work in and I value your opinion.”
Board member Tyler McGuffey said he also believes the best candidate will be one who has served as a principal of a school in the past.
Eaton said that wasn’t included in the advertisement but it can be considered in their decision.
McGuffey asked Eaton about publicizing names of possible candidates, as he has seen some other districts do in the past, and whether it’s something they should consider.
“It’s not common. I’ve seen it happen a few times,” Eaton said. “…That’s for you all to decide. But the only thing I always caution boards about is that there’s somebody that’s not going to get the job that may need to go back to the district that may be trying to get a superintendent’s job without maybe spreading it all over their own district.”
McGuffey said he didn’t want to put anyone in a tough situation but he believes the public would appreciate knowing who is recommended by the screening committee.
“That’ll be something we can discuss on (Nov.) 9,” Eaton said.
Sneed said she liked the idea if they could get permission from the candidates.
“If they don’t we can leave them anonymous,” she said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but I like that idea.”
Eaton also reviewed specifics regarding the background and reference checks.
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH TIMELINE
Aug. 25 – advertising begins and screening committee organized
Oct. 1 – applications close
Oct. 13 – joint meeting of board and screening committee; 1st screening committee meeting
Oct. 26 – 2nd screening committee meeting; applicants chosen for background and reference checks; background and reference checks begin
Nov. 2 – 3rd screening committee meeting; recommendations finalized for board
Nov. 9 – joint meeting between board and screening committee to receive committee recommendations; board planning meeting following joint meeting
TBD – board interviews candidates
TBD – new superintendent named
