Published: October 10, 2008 10:16 am         

Firm seeks public input on next JISD leader

By Raymond Billy

rbilly@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The firm hired to identify candidates to be Jacksonville Independent School District’s next superintendent will seek public guidance in narrowing the field of hopefuls for the job.

Officials with TASB Executive Search Services will hold a series of forums Oct. 20 to gauge the thoughts of various members of the community who have a stake in who will replace Stuart Bird as superintendent. Bird announced in August he would retire effective at the end of the school year after five years leading the district.

The JISD Board of Trustees during a special meeting last month picked Executive Search Services out of three companies vying for the job. Upon being contracted for the search, officials with the firm made setting a date to poll the community its first priority.

“By asking the different segments of the community the same questions about what they want in a school superintendent, we want to pick out the issues that rise to the top — where each group shares common concerns,” said Butch Felkner, a consultant with Executive Search Services. “It might be finances, or curriculum or leadership. Whatever their concerns might be, we expect a clear picture to emerge after we meet with the community.”

The firm plans to hold nine meetings within a nine-hour period. Each meeting will be open to the public, but each will be intended to gather views from a specific community group. The groups will include the general public; central office administration; campus administration; students; civic and business leaders; campus support staff; teachers and the school board.

Felkner said in his experience with such meetings in the past, participation rates have varied.

“I’ve been in communities where we’ve had good turnout and some where many people were expected to show up, but didn’t,” he said.

Whatever the turnout, Felkner said Executive Search Services plans to sift through the suggestions and concerns aired by the community, compile the issues that rise to the top and use that information as part of a report that will be presented to the school board. James Houser, president of the Board of Trustees, said input from the public will be valued. He said the meetings aren’t solely for the purpose of giving the public a feeling of efficacy.

“I don’t want people to think we’re going to do whatever we want no matter what they say. We genuinely want support from our citizens,” Houser said. “What they have to say will have a definite impact on who becomes the next superintendent.”

At the request of Executive Search Services consultants, members of the school board will not be present at any of the meetings except for the last one, which will be part of the October board meeting, Houser said. Trustee exclusion from the earlier meetings is intended to foster a more frank discussion, particularly where school officials are concerned.

“People will fill more open to speak their minds if we aren’t there, especially teachers and administrative members,” Houser said.

The search firm and JISD hope to move the application process along quickly, so the Oct. 20 meeting will be the primary opportunity that residents have to offer their input. Executive Search Services hopes to close the application process by late November, at which time it expects to have 35to 50 applicants. Felkner said that number will be narrowed to six by December.

Felkner also said Jacksonville has a number of qualities that will draw attractive candidates.

“Jacksonville is a good-sized town and the school district is financially sound,” Felkner said. “It’s in a good location and the community is beautiful and has a lot of tradition. Also, the school board and the administration are very progressive, which is a plus,” he said.

Those who cannot attend the meetings or don’t feel comfortable speaking out in public can post their thoughts and suggestions on the JISD Web site, www.jacksonvilleisd.org, where they can follow the link for the Online Community Involvement Assessment (available in English and Spanish).

     

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