KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education wants to be on a fast track to find a new superintendent, and they began the process last night by interviewing search firms to help in finding their candidate.
The board talked with McPherson and Jacobson, which is headquartered in Nebraska but has an office in the state, and the Michigan Association of School Boards. They plan to interview three more firms this week and make a decision at a special meeting Monday, February 20.
Trustees seemed particularly interested in getting a pool of candidates that is diverse, even non-traditional. They also seemed interested in making their own reference calls to districts where candidates are currently working…
MASB representative Greg Sieszputowski said they do that automatically.
The presenter for McPherson and Jacobson says they handle those calls, but they offer a better two year guarantee to re-do the search if the candidate doesn’t work out. The MASB only offers a one year guarantee.
Board Chair Ti’Anna Harrison says they have a tight timetable for getting a new superintendent on board, hoping to get that person on the job in July 2023.
The consultants say this is prime-time for a Superintendent search, because candidates are hunting around for new opportunities as this school year winds down, but the pool of candidates will be smaller.
reporting from John McNeill
