The Hermleigh ISD board of trustees will use a search firm to help find its next superintendent.
On Monday, the board approved hiring CCR Educational Consultants to perform the search. Skip Casey, who was hired as the interim superintendent by the board last week, works for the firm.
Casey told the board he would wave his portion of the $5,000 fee because he will be employed by the district. The search will cost the district $3,350 plus travel and advertising expenses, consultant Rod Townsend said.
“We know the importance of finding the right superintendent for a district this size and in this part of the country,” said Townsend, who is a former superintendent with Decatur ISD.
The consultants will return to Hermleigh to meet with the board, during a future meeting, to discuss how they want the job posted.
Casey said this is not the best time of year to hire someone and he and Townsend recommended the board plan to hiring someone in the spring.
Casey added that Hermleigh should attract quality candidates.
“You will probably get more superintendents to apply because the school is in good shape and you have money,” he said.
Townsend said he expects up to 50 people to apply for the position, which is being vacated next month when Brent Dawson resigns to accept a job outside of education.
“Not everyone can start out in a facility like this. You are going to attract some good people,” Townsend said.
In order to have someone in place in the spring, Townsend and Casey said the job should be posted through mid-January. Townsend said the board should be unanimous in selecting the right person.
Casey said if the board is not happy with the interviews, the firm will return to work and find new candidates.
“This is the most important job you have as a school board,” he said.
Both men told the board that they should expect to have a superintendent for three years.
“It is better to have a good one for three to five years than a lifetime with a bad one,” Townsend said.
Board members also approved the teacher appraisal calendar and declared 4-H programs as an extracurricular activity.