By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 Board of Education met Thursday night to discuss the results of a full day of meetings Wednesday with staff, administration and patrons from Hays about the qualities desired in the district’s next superintendent.
Gary Sechrist, Kansas Association of School Boards leadership specialist, led Thursday’s meeting. The KASB was hired by the board to provide guidance during the search process, and Sechrist will help narrow the field of candidates this month, culminating with interviews with selected candidates.
During Wednesday’s meetings, 86 individuals attended various group sessions to give feedback on what qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent.
“I think that a trend did come forward,” Sechrist said.
The most desired quality, he said, is someone with a “strong backbone” who can give recommendations to the school board. Honesty, integrity and visibility were also top qualities people said they wanted.
After describing the results of the meetings, Sechrist gave several procedural recommendations as candidates are identified and interviewed.
A key portion of bringing candidates in, he said, relates to how the board presents the city and the district to the candidate, recommending a list of positive attributes be created to share with candidates.
As an example, he noted that he heard positive feedback about the use of technology throughout USD 489. He said he has been in many districts and using the tech the way USD 489 does “is exciting.”
But with positives come negatives, and Sechrist shared some feedback on challenges the next superintendent may face.
The most visible of those concerns is a $94 million bond issue that is set for a June 7 election. Regardless of whether the bond passes, Sechrist said, the next superintendent must understand facility needs is “critical.”
He also said rebuilding trust – for whatever reason – would be a challenge.
“The superintendent will need to be a healer,” Sechrist said.
In a search of this nature, it is possible two exemplary candidates emerge, and Sechrist advised a “tie-breaker” question should be developed in case the board is stuck.
During Wednesday’s meetings, a question emerged that would evaluate proven successes in a leadership position and an open-door policy. Both traits ranked high on the list of desires in a candidate.
The board will now work to compile a list of 21 questions to be used in the interview process. That list will be compiled from submissions by the entire board to be turned in Monday.
While the board is finalizing questions, Sechrist and two outside advisers will filter through applications to present to the board for a meeting at 4:45 p.m. May 16. He advised the board that calls should be made to those candidates that same evening, once the board decides who they would like for interviews.
Each candidate brought forward will have a public meeting, a meal with the board and a formal interview.
Overall, Sechrist seemed optimistic about candidates who have already expressed interest in the position.
“You have some good ones, and I’m very pleased,” he said.