By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 Board of Education met over lunch Monday with Gary Sechrist, Kansas Association of School Boards leadership specialist, to begin the search for the next superintendent for the district.
Dean Katt, current superintendent for the district, will step down at the end of the school year.
During the meeting, board members Paul Adams, Sarah Rankin, Luke Oborny and board president Lance Bickle discussed with Sechrist details of the search process, including using the KASB to assist in the search at a cost of $5,250 plus travel.
Using the KASB would be cheaper than doing the search independently, according to Katt.
The truncated time available for the search also creates a sense of urgency to begin the process.
Normally, the process is scheduled over six weeks, but due to the timing, the search will be compressed to a four-week process.
“We’re a little late,” Sechrist said. “I’m a little nervous about that.”
With the little time available, the board completed the first phase of the search during the meeting, deciding on preliminary timing for search processes.
The board agreed to allow Sechrist to produce brochures for the position that would be sent to superintendents throughout the area that could be produced in as little as two weeks.
The brochure will cost the district an additional $350.
The position would also be listed on the KASB website and teachingjobs.com, and the brochure would be sent to 286 school district offices.
A routine portion of the search and the next step that will be taken by the district is to schedule meetings for district employees and members of the community to receive input into what is wanted in the next superintendent.
Similar meetings were held for the search at the end of 2013, but as the district has faced undergone changes since that time, the board agreed it is important to once again get input.
“You’re probably safer to do it,” Sechrist said.
Groups likely to be scheduled for 45-minute meetings include teachers, parent organizations and community members.
During the last search, seven meetings were held over the course of two days.
At the April 28 board meeting, the findings of those meetings will be reviewed with Sechrist.
Following that meeting, Sechrist recommends an application deadline of May 10.
Sechrist and two other area superintendents will screen candidates based on what the board decides to look for in a candidate and will recommend candidates to the board the following week.
Interviews will then be scheduled with the full board. Sechrist recommends the full board be present during the candidate interviews and also recommends the candidates be given the opportunity to tour the district and the city of Hays.
While the search is ongoing, the board continue to discussions during its work session and board meetings.
The next board meeting is scheduled for April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th.