Eudora residents hope the new superintendent will be trustworthy, honest and approachable, a community survey showed.
As the search for a new superintendent rolls out, the Kansas Association of School Boards launched an online survey and hosted eight focus groups with community stakeholders to help the School Board determine what qualities the next superintendent should have.
The association was hired by the board to guide the superintendent search and presented a summary of both the survey and focus groups during a special meeting Tuesday. The community input report will be used when screening superintendent candidates.
“What we’re trying to do here is prioritize,” said Brian Jordan, deputy executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards.
In total, 71 people participated in focus groups throughout Tuesday. Additionally, there were 433 survey responses.
Those who participated in the focus group said one of their top priorities they want the new superintendent to tackle is creating more competitive salary and benefits packages to attract and retain staff members.
They also listed upkeep of buildings and improving diversity and equity as two additional top priorities for the next superintendent.
One of the questions from the public survey asked what leadership qualities the community would like the next superintendent to have. Most people responded they want their next superintendent to be involved within the community. The survey results also showed people want the next superintendent to be efficient at managing resources and be a proactive thinker.
From there, School Board members shared their own thoughts on what the next superintendent should be.
Primarily, board members said they wanted someone who had a vision for the future of the school district. That vision would entail growth through providing opportunities with limited budget resources and through high staff morale.
School Board member Becky Plate also added that diversity and inclusion, among other initiatives, has not been able to be prioritized because of the pandemic.
“I would like to see a little bit of a focus, a bit more broadly, on the diversity and inclusivity,” Plate said.
Board members were asked by the Kansas Association of School Boards if it came down to two similar candidates, what quality would make the difference to decide the candidate.
“It would be a culture that values chemistry with staff,” said Mark Chrislip, the board president.
School Board member Mike Kelso added he would like to see someone with a diverse background that can offer a new perspective to the district.
The full results from the focus groups, public survey and the school board’s input will be compiled into a report put together by the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Applications for the superintendent position are due April 16. Individuals can apply through the Kansas Association of School Boards: https://kasb.myrevelus.com/client/search/54. Jordan previously said applicants would be able to request the results from the community survey and focus groups through the Kansas Association of School Boards.
Applicants will begin being screened April 20. Interviews will follow shortly after, but those interviews will not be public. However, the board is expected to announce the candidates receiving interviews.
If the timeline follows as intended, the school district could know its next superintendent by May.
Reach reporter Nicole Asbury at [email protected].
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