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The Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board is preparing to interview six applicants with superintendents after an Illinois research firm narrowed the fields of 37 applicants.
“We deliver what we think is the best cream,” says Debra Hill. BWP and Associates He told the board’s search committee on Tuesday.
The board will first confirm information about “five to seven” candidates on April 17, Hill said, and will begin Zoom interviews with them shortly thereafter. 3 of his BWP consultants and his 38 page Tuesday night session interview preparation documents It provided the clearest view yet of a process that has proven problematic for CMS over the years.
By May, the board hopes to sign an experienced superintendent who will stay for at least a few years after the 12-year extension. the director didn’t make it up to the third year.
After meeting with search consultants last week, the CMS Board of Directors’ Search Oversight Committee said it plans to hire a new leader in May rather than April. Debra Hill, her consultant, told the committee it was unlikely her CMS would be at a disadvantage to welcome someone into the office by the summer.
This search puts the job of early selection in the hands of search companies. The search company has already reviewed the application and conducted 10 preliminary interviews. Board members also sign confidentiality agreements that include strict control of documents identifying applicants.
On Tuesday, CMS Board Vice Chair Stephanie Sneed pressed consultants for details of the process so far.
“So let me ask you a question, Dr. Hill — I’ve probably said it ten times,” Snead said sarcastically as the rest of the committee chuckled.
Filter fields
Hill said 37 candidates had completed their applications by the March 30 deadline. She said her promise of confidentiality helped attract “a very strong pool.”
Her colleague Kevin Castor agreed.
“This is the strongest pool I’ve ever been involved with. I’m sure we’re going to make some tough decisions for you,” he said.
Hill, Castner, and Percy Mac provided information on the application leadership profile Developed by the board after extensive community involvement. They picked 10 people for the interview, Hill said.
This year’s third graders have been hit particularly hard by the classroom disruptions caused by the pandemic. Crystal Hill, CMS interim superintendent, said she expects third graders to recover faster next year, but that’s because they’re heading into a year where reading is essential for all subjects. Still, Tuesday’s reading data review was a triumph of sorts.
After these interviews, she said, the three agreed on about seven submissions to the CMS board. “We now have to go back to them and say, ‘Are you still interested in this position?’ before handing over the slate to you,” she said.
Prior to the April 17 meeting, Hill said consultants would review the references. Say they are.
first interview
On April 17, the entire Board will compile a one-page summary of each candidate and determine the number of candidates to interview. The Board agrees on a series of questions for each candidate and conducts an initial interview via Zoom.
For years, CMS traditionally opened a handful of finalists to the public, but stopped after the 2012 survey as the national trend shifted to secrecy.
“While the media, staff and some members of the community may be interested in the candidate and the individual board member’s reaction to the candidate, Confidential communication with Board members on all matters related to candidates is strongly encouraged. Confidentiality breaches can put district and board members at risk,” the prepared report said. “Keep comments to others under strict control and keep all notes and confidential files of candidates in a place only accessible by directors. To do.”
During Tuesday’s session, Hill emphasized that “pillow talk,” conversations with friends, or back-routed queries about candidates “could come back to bite you.” I told them about a board member who called people to ask about
“Ultimately, we were advised not to consider the district because the candidates were not in the minority and would not be considered,” Hill said. It became a trigger for the
Selection of finalists
After the first round, the CMS Board will select up to three finalists to come to Charlotte and interview them in person. Hill said if the board wants to see references, the search firm will provide guidance on how to do so.
She strongly advised against sending anyone to visit the outside candidate’s district.
“While this was a common practice in the past, current searches have largely eliminated it,” the readiness report said. The visit is costly, risks premature disclosure someone has requested, and “may not always provide a true picture of how the district operates, as this could be a ‘phased’ event.” There is
The BWP also advised against any kind of “public comparison of candidates”. The report says it will be up to her CMS board to decide if there will be “additional community engagement with semi-finalists or potential finalists.” But inviting staff and the public to consider multiple candidates “will always create disagreements. People never agree unanimously, and the final candidate is always a compromise education.” considered long.”
The company recommends disclosing who has been hired only after signing the contract. “A prepared news release should be provided simultaneously to your community’s media and the community of new superintendents.”
history of stumbling
Over the years, CMS has tried a variety of approaches to recruiting superintendents, all with problems.
In 2012, Heath Morrison was one of three finalists open to the public. He was superintendent of schools in Reno, Nevada and had been elected national superintendent of schools that year. His energy, charisma and knowledge of CMS were outstanding and Morrison got off to a strong start in Charlotte.
But he was kicked out two and a half years later amid charges of lying to the board about the cost of building the school and abusing employees in the office. Also, his PROACT, the company that hired Morrison, was embroiled in controversy. One reason, he said, was concern that the company was promoting candidates who paid the company for training.
After he left, board members considered hiring a replacement without searching. However, some wanted Ann Clarke as Deputy Superintendent, others wanted Maurice “Moe” Greene, the former CMS Deputy Superintendent who headed Guildford County Schools. Green ended up getting another job, and the board signed Clarke to a short-term contract while launching a nationwide investigation.
That research led to the hiring of Clayton Wilcox, a small district superintendent of education in Maryland, in 2017. The public did not see him until after the press conference announcing his choice, which he did not attend. Wilcox soon faced questions about his management style and business decisions. He resigned two years after him, but neither he nor the board agreed to discuss why.
In 2019, the Board promoted Ernest Winston to District Ombudsman. Winston did not have a degree in teaching, had never been a principal, and at CMS he oversaw 26 people.the state had to give permission Appoint him without traditional qualifications.
The board fired Winston a year ago.
Mr. Hill told the board one thing was clear from the community’s input. This time around, they are looking for leaders with experience in high-level positions in large school districts and a proven track record of academic achievement.
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