“I think the search is going very well,” said board president Steve Wright. “I am very pleased with the search firm. I fully expect to stay on schedule and finish by April 8.”
Texas law requires that the name or names of finalists for a superintendent position must be made public 21 days before the board can decide to hire the person. However, Wright said it is common practice for only a sole finalist to be named because it brings in better quality applicants. If a working superintendent applies for a new job, it could generate feelings of betrayal among teachers and community members in his or her home district.
“If you want to hire a really good quality superintendent that’s actively working, they are not going to apply for a position that (will publicize names),” Wright said. “For the betterment of the district and the quality of the applicants, it’s vital to the process that those people remain confidential.”
In a survey completed earlier this month about 480 concerned citizens weighed in on what they want in a superintendent.
According to the survey report compiled by Dr. Ben Canada, head of the Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services team, Temple is looking for an experienced leader and a person who can build cohesive teams, get input from the different factions in the community and mend fences. The survey also showed a lack of trust between the community and the district, which the new superintendent will have to remedy.
The community was divided whether a new superintendent should come from the Temple area or from outside. Having a doctoral degree was only listed as a requirement by the faculty, but experience in schools was a high priority among many surveyed. They were also split on whether interim superintendent Dr. Dana Marable would be a good choice.
kchandler@temple-telegram.com
