The Anchorage School Board is ready to launch its search for a new district superintendent. Yesterday the board president said they’ve hired a search firm and provided a forum for community involvement.
After 38 years with the Anchorage School District in positions ranging from noon playground monitor through teacher to union president unto principalships and 10 years as superintendent, Carol Comeau intends to retire at the end of June, 2012.
School Board President Gretchen Guess said since Comeau’s announcment two months ago, the board has been busy drafting job criteria. Members also wanted to devise ways that the general public could advise the board on what skills and expertise they thought the new superintendent should possess.
To collect the widest array of suggestions, paper copies of the on-line surveys and draft criteria are available at all schools–not only in English, but Spanish, Hmong, Samoan, Tagalog and Korean.
The comment portion includes a public hearing set for Saturday, September 10th from 9 am to noon followed by district employees from 1 to 4 pm. Both sessions take place in the district board room and will be broadcast over the district’s cable channel 14.
Guess said individuals can also send e-mails with suggestions to the board members.
The board president described how the public comment period lies within the overall superintendent selection timeline.
She said before beginning the search, the board felt it was crucial to define clearly what its new goals were for the school district itself and how the incoming superintendent was expected to bring that vision about.
Guess also announced that the board has hired Proact, a national personnel search firm.
The cost for Proact’s services is 32 thousand, five hundred dollars, plus travel.
As for how much is the board is willing to pay the next superintendent….
Comeau will not take part in the selection process. However, if the hiring of a new superintendent maintains its proposed schedule, she will participate in a three to four month long transition period with her successor.
- ASD: Time line for search and hiring
- ASD: Public Survey (online copy)
- ASD: Public Survey (print copy in English. PDF)
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