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District begins search for superintendent

By JIM SCHUH
of The Gazette
The next school superintendent of the Stevens Point School District must be a communicator, an advocate for public education, a visionary and must understand the range of fiscal issues involved in education.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB), which is assisting the Stevens Point Board of Education with the selection process, has posted the position listing for a new superintendent on its Web site http://www.wasb.org., listing those four broad areas as requirements. It invites candidates to fill out an eight-page application before the Feb. 14 deadline. Present Superintendent Emery Babcock plans to retire at the end of June.

The WASB conducted interviews with more than 130 people representing various facets of the community before developing the position listing. Among those in the focus groups were representatives from education, business, labor, medicine, human services, public safety and media along with elected officials, volunteers, retirees, minorities, school administrations and school board members. From those sessions, the WASB developed its list of criteria for the position.

The posting says, "The Stevens Point Area Public Schools, students, staff, parents and community members seek an energetic educational leader who appreciates heartland values and understands that the superintendent's position is interwoven throughout community life."

First on the list of leadership requirements important to the board, staff and community is "communicator" - someone who "communicates tirelessly in every possible medium." The new superintendent must be an advocate - someone who "has a passion for public education." As a "visionary," the candidate must be one who "leads the community in forming a vision and works with staff, board and community to bring the vision to fruition." And as a steward of district funds, the new superintendent must understand and demonstrate district and fiscal management procedures, and understand such things as revenue cap controls.

The superintendent oversees a $81.7 million budget. The position will pay more than $100,000 annually.

The application is eight pages long and asks candidates for their major strengths, philosophy of educational leadership and reasons for seeking the post. It also requires university transcripts and three letters of reference. The application asks such questions as why a candidate has left previous positions.

Other requested items include honors, awards and accomplishments; professional organization membership; community activities and personal attributes.

The application is specific in asking how the applicant will advance the school district's vision, and how the applicant's concept of power will guide his or her relationships with the board, administrators, teachers, students, parents and community members. It asks candidates to elaborate on their communications with various community groups, and to explain personal experience in passing referenda and budgeting in light of changing enrollment and budget challenges.

Stevens Point Board of Education President Mary Thurmaier said the board retained the WASB to handle the application process because with everything else currently on the board's plate, it would have been an impossible task to handle alone. In addition, WASB has more experience in handling focus groups and developing job descriptions. The WASB work will cost the district between $3,250 and $4,700.

Before hiring Richard Eisenhauer as superintendent, the board used a firm to assist in recruitment. But the board was disappointed to learn that after it had chosen and introduced a candidate to the community, that he changed his mind and took a position in another district. It was then the board learned that the firm was also recruiting for the other district. Some considered that to be a conflict of interest.

After the application period closes, the WASB will do an initial screening, with school board members from around Wisconsin selecting potential candidates, using the criteria the WASB developed. The report from WASB to the Stevens Point Board of Education is due by March 4. The board then will choose candidates for a first interview the week of March 11. Thurmaier says the board plans to ask community representatives for assistance in the interview process. The board will do reference checks the following week and then conduct second interviews, if necessary, the week of March 25.

Board members plan to visit the finalists' districts during the week of April 8 and make an offer to the candidate it selects the next week. The board wants to have a signed contract by May 1, and intends to introduce the new superintendent to the community May 15. He or she is to begin work July 1.

The WASB position listing went up on the Web site Thursday, Jan. 10, and Thurmaier said that by the next day, the WASB already had received applications from interested candidates.



	District begins search for superintendent By JIM SCHUH of The Gazette The next school superintendent of the Stevens Point School District must be a communicator, an advocate for public education, a visionary and must understand the range of fiscal issues involved in education. The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB), which is assisting the Stevens Point Board of Education with the selection process, has posted the position listing for a new superintendent on its Web site http://www.wasb.org., listing those four broad areas as requirements. It invites candidates to fill out an eight-page application before the Feb. 14 deadline. Present Superintendent Emery Babcock plans to retire at the end of June. The WASB conducted interviews with more than 130 people representing various facets of the community before developing the position listing. Among those in the focus groups were representatives from education, business, labor, medicine, human services, public safety and media along with elected officials, volunteers, retirees, minorities, school administrations and school board members. From those sessions, the WASB developed its list of criteria for the position. The posting says, "The Stevens Point Area Public Schools, students, staff, parents and community members seek an energetic educational leader who appreciates heartland values and understands that the superintendent's position is interwoven throughout community life." First on the list of leadership requirements important to the board, staff and community is "communicator" - someone who "communicates tirelessly in every possible medium." The new superintendent must be an advocate - someone who "has a passion for public education." As a "visionary," the candidate must be one who "leads the community in forming a vision and works with staff, board and community to bring the vision to fruition." And as a steward of district funds, the new superintendent must understand and demonstrate district and fiscal management procedures, and understand such things as revenue cap controls. The superintendent oversees a $81.7 million budget. The position will pay more than $100,000 annually. The application is eight pages long and asks candidates for their major strengths, philosophy of educational leadership and reasons for seeking the post. It also requires university transcripts and three letters of reference. The application asks such questions as why a candidate has left previous positions. Other requested items include honors, awards and accomplishments; professional organization membership; community activities and personal attributes. The application is specific in asking how the applicant will advance the school district's vision, and how the applicant's concept of power will guide his or her relationships with the board, administrators, teachers, students, parents and community members. It asks candidates to elaborate on their communications with various community groups, and to explain personal experience in passing referenda and budgeting in light of changing enrollment and budget challenges. Stevens Point Board of Education President Mary Thurmaier said the board retained the WASB to handle the application process because with everything else currently on the board's plate, it would have been an impossible task to handle alone. In addition, WASB has more experience in handling focus groups and developing job descriptions. The WASB work will cost the district between $3,250 and $4,700. Before hiring Richard Eisenhauer as superintendent, the board used a firm to assist in recruitment. But the board was disappointed to learn that after it had chosen and introduced a candidate to the community, that he changed his mind and took a position in another district. It was then the board learned that the firm was also recruiting for the other district. Some considered that to be a conflict of interest. After the application period closes, the WASB will do an initial screening, with school board members from around Wisconsin selecting potential candidates, using the criteria the WASB developed. The report from WASB to the Stevens Point Board of Education is due by March 4. The board then will choose candidates for a first interview the week of March 11. Thurmaier says the board plans to ask community representatives for assistance in the interview process. The board will do reference checks the following week and then conduct second interviews, if necessary, the week of March 25. Board members plan to visit the finalists' districts during the week of April 8 and make an offer to the candidate it selects the next week. The board wants to have a signed contract by May 1, and intends to introduce the new superintendent to the community May 15. He or she is to begin work July 1. The WASB position listing went up on the Web site Thursday, Jan. 10, and Thurmaier said that by the next day, the WASB already had received applications from interested candidates.