The Snyder ISD board of trustees, on Monday, voted unanimously to hire Griggs & Associates to lead the district’s search for a new superintendent.
Part of the agreement is that the firm will provide future board training.
Brad Hinton made the motion to hire the firm if it would agree to conduct board training before trustees get into the selection process.
While the agenda called only for discussion and the selection of a search firm, the discussion quickly turned to what some trustees see as problems within the board itself.
Following a statement by board president Ronnie Anderson that he felt the board could do the superintendent search itself, Jim Drake said he did not think the board is ready to conduct the search.
“I don’t think the board is ready,” Drake said. “We need to address our issues. It would not be fair to put somebody in that chair and say, ‘Here, fix our problems.’”
Drake added that he felt the board needed guidance and leadership.
During the discussion, both Hinton and Sarah Jamison said they were in favor of Griggs.
“Griggs would have their name on the line,” Jamison said.
Ralph Ramon suggested the board could do the search and address board issues during the process.
Trustees also discussed developing a superintendent profile with input from the community.
Chief Financial Officer Dr. Randy Burks, who has also been a superintendent, said a search firm could develop a profile.
“But until you seven get on the same page, none of this will matter. The same fate will happen to the next guy,” Burks said. “The candidate will do as much homework on you as you will on him. Negative work kills people, and this is negative work.”
Board member Ron Hester said, “I don’t think we’re that far off. I think our heart is with students and teachers. And that’s everyone in this room.”
Hinton said that he felt the board had a lot of issues to be discussed.
“There’s some real big issues out there,” he said.
Interim Superintendent Jim Kirkland said improved student achievement should be the main focus of the trustees.
Also on Monday, trustees voted to spend $117,426 for wireless updates at Snyder High School and Snyder Junior High School. The district expects to be reimbursed as early as Friday from E-rate, a federal program funded by fees collected by telecommunications companies.
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