At a special meeting on Jan. 13, Oxford Board of Education approved the hiring of Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) as the search firm to find the next superintendent of Oxford Schools with a price tag of $5,500.
The vote was 6-1. Trustee Joyce Brasington was absent, but did send an e-mail to President Jim Reis, voicing her support to hire the search firm.
‘I wholeheartedly support the search firm we have selected,? Brasington wrote in the e-mail.
Why hire a search firm?
Before making their final decision to hire MLI, the board got a chance to interview Charles Andrews, regional president of East Central Michigan for MLI.
Board secretary Mark Stepek told Andrews that the board had considered possibly doing the search on their own and wanted to know why hiring MLI would be better.
Andrews explained that because they are a state-wide company they have access to candidates all throughout the state.
‘There are some very, very good people who come in second or third in some school districts that are maybe a great fit in another school district around the state,? Andrews said.
They also ‘guarantee? their placements. So if MLI places a superintendent in Oxford and that person leaves the district short of their contract for any reason other than personal health or family reasons, they will come back and do a search for that person’s replacement.
By hiring MLI, Andrews said they ‘weed through the mud? by doing background checks, calling references and checking neighboring districts of where that candidate was previous placed to find out what they may know about the candidate.
‘We always ask ‘if I Google your name am I going to be surprised by anything that pops up?? Andrews added. ‘We want to bring the best candidates forward, because if we don’t it’s an embarrassment to us and we want to make sure we maintain our integrity.?
Trustee Mike Schweig noted that he would like the selection process to include as many candidates as possible.
As an outsider to Oxford, Andrews spoke highly of the district, stating that Oxford has a ‘great reputation,? but with some of the ‘innovative programming? the district has, he doesn’t believe they will get many applicants. While some districts get between 25-40 applicants, he sees Oxford being much more limited, due it being a ‘unique? district.
‘Not many school districts in the state or the nation actually have a relationship with the education system in foreign countries,? he said. ‘I think you’ll attract those people who do think a little bit differently than the typical school administrator. I think you’ll find people who have prepared themselves for the next step and are ready.?
Search Criteria
The search criteria for the possible candidates will come from input from all groups, teachers, administrators, central office administrators and school board member, as well as community and staff forums, which are to be completed by MLI.
According to the criteria ‘Oxford Community Schools seeks a dynamic, global education leader who is passionate and posses the following characteristics and skills: (some of the bullet-points include):
? A visionary leader who is unwavering in sustaining and improving our comprehensive programs and initiatives
? Commitment to equal valuation of fine arts, athletics, and academics, and the belief that each is important for the holistic development of our students
? An Edupreneur: an educational leader demonstrating the ability to bring to fruition innovative educational programs and opportunities while also developing revenue programs to sustain them
? A global-minded leader who is committed to further international relationship development and continuous improvement of the district’s International Baccalaureate World School Program.
? A global-minded individual who is committed to the full-implementation of the district’s existing and future strategic initiatives.
In her e-mail to the board, Brasington noted that she would prefer the search criteria ‘of a few less global bullet points and a few proven record of raising student achievement point type items.?
Jim Reis was appreciative of Brasington’s input, but felt there were ‘more weighted things that deal with student achievement criteria than anything that deals with global initiatives.? The criteria currently has 23 bullet-points and 11 sub-points.
Board Treasurer Dan D’Alessandro didn’t think they could ‘overlook? that the district is global.
‘If we leave that off of here in the selection criteria and somebody comes in they are going to be surprised at what we have in place right now,? he added. ‘So I don’t think it needs to be the sole criteria, but it does need to be stated on there somewhere.?
Schweig agreed it was important.
‘We need to mention global minded as much as possible so the person gets the right idea about who we are and what we’re about,? he said.
However, Schweig was curious as to what the ‘goal of the selection criteria? was? Andrews said it helps them ‘find those people that best fit your criteria.?
‘I like (it) being so thorough because it gives the applicants an idea of the standard that’s going to be expected and if there (are) a few things in there that they don’t like they’ll just pass,? Andrews noted.
D’Alessandro said the board only has ‘one employee.?
‘I think it’s really important for us to let that one employee understand what it is we’re looking for,? he added.
Stepek asked Andrews if the criteria was ‘overboard? and were asking for a person ‘who doesn’t exist.? Andrews didn’t think so.
‘You have some unique aspects about Oxford and have some unique expectations,? he said. ‘I think you would want someone who would be able to match up with the majority of these things.?
While students are number one, according to Vice President Carol Mitchell, she also sees the selection of the next superintendent as an important person to faculty and staff.
?(Superintendent) Bill (Skilling) has put into place an infrastructure in this district with the administrators, teachers and everyone. I don’t want to fail them,? Mithchell said. ‘That’s who is going to be involved (with this person).?
D’Alessandro agreed.
‘We as a board feel that without our teachers our students don’t get our best,? he told Andrews. ‘This is the easy part (sitting on this board) day-to-day is the difficult. We want to makesure we do our very best. We want to make sure we get the best person that can to do that and continue to toe the rope.?
Timeline
According to the search timeline, the superintendent position was posted Jan. 14 and will close Feb. 13. Finalists to interview will be selected by MLI Feb. 16. Candidate interviews will be conducted Feb. 18-19; second round of interviews will be Feb. 23 and Feb. 26. The selection of the new superintendent will be Feb. 27 with a start date no later than Sept. 1.