Superintendent search begins with productive meeting

The School Board is taking a very thoughtful and thorough approach to the search for the next superintendent.

In an effort to clearly define the opportunity for prospective candidates, the board fine-tuned the district's vision, strengths and areas for improvement, definitions of transformation and world-class education at a meeting today.

Community involvement in the process is very high on the board's list of priorities. Much of today's workshop was dedicated to the creation of an inclusive and open process that will include multiple strategies for sharing information and seeking input from teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community stakeholders.

An Envisioning Committee will be convened to help define the selection process and "be involved in every step." It will include representatives from 16 community organizations as well as a teacher, principal and parent representative from each School Board district. There will be an application process for the School Board district representatives made available on the Duval County Public Schools website.

The School Board plans to recruit this group and schedule the first of several meetings by the second week of April. In late April/early May after FCAT testing is complete, the School Board will hold a series of meetings, as well as conduct on-line surveys for district staff to provide input into the process.

The Board also agreed to invite a representative from the Center for the Reform of School Systems to their March 29 workshop to inform them of best practices in superintendent searches. They agreed to hire a community involvement facilitator, naming former School Board member Nancy Broner as their choice for this role. The board hopes to complete the process of informing the search by mid-summer.

-- Pam Paul