The Alachua County School Board vowed Wednesday (Sept. 18) to involve the public in selecting a new superintendent to replace Dan Boyd, who’s retiring at the end of September.
Public input began before the board’s special meeting to plan the recruitment process was over.
Cynthia Chestnut, a former county commissioner, city commissioner and state representative, encouraged the board to conduct a national search because she said it would generate the broadest pool of candidates, including African Americans and women, and candidates with vigor, a commitment to innovation and a collaborative spirit.
Pete Johnson, a former member the Gainesville-Alachua County Airport Authority and a former candidate for mayor, contended that the board should actively recruit candidates, rather than relying solely on advertising the position. “The best candidates may not be looking for a job,” he said.
The board selected the Florida School Boards Association to help with the search, at a cost that association Executive Director Wayne Blanton estimated would be below $15,000.
Blanton told the board that a search limited to candidates from Florida could move more quickly than a national search, and that most superintendents hired in Florida came from within the state.
Nevertheless, board members seemed to form a consensus to conduct a national search.
A national search is likely to generate about 40 candidates, with eight to 10 of them being women and eight to 10 black, Blanton said.
Alachua County should attract strong candidates, Blanton commented. “You have an attractive area, a nice sized district and a good reputation,” he said.
The board will discuss its goals for the new superintendent at its Sept. 24 retreat.
Hiring a superintendent goes beyond selecting a candidate with the best qualification, said Bill Graham, a former Palm Beach County school board member, who will help Blanton screen candidates. “There has to be chemistry, a fit in terms of leadership style,” he said.
It’s best if the board is united in selecting a superintendent, Blanton noted. “Some candidates won’t take the job on a 3-2 vote,” he said.
The board selected Deputy Superintendent Hershel Lyons to serve as interim superintendent.