As Grosse Pointe Public School constituents prepare for a busy summer, know that the process to replace retiring D. Suzanne Klein will be moving just as rapidly.
In our planning meeting last night with newly appointed search firm specialists, Hazzard, Young, Attea & Associates, the Board of Education agreed to a timeline that would position us to make an offer to our next superintendent in the second week of July.
The Board anticipates being offered a fairly wide slate of qualified candidates who meet the characteristics established by the community and the Board around the week of June 13th. A smaller set of candidates would be interviewed by the Board, all in open and public session, on June 20th through 22nd. Finalist interviews, perhaps two or three at most, would take place July 11th and 12th. It would be anticipated that should one of those finalists meet the Boards approval that on the night of the 12th consensus would be reached by the Board to negotiate a contract, effectively ending the search process.
I offer two main messages. The first is that the community and constituents of all kinds will have ample opportunity to share opinions on the characteristics of our next superintendent. In fact, many already have as part of our strategic planning process. But focus groups, forums, interviews, and online surveys will be coming fast and furious. The district is certain to communicate these and everyone should know these opportunities are coming.
My second message is that this process, like those of the many other districts I have followed and benchmarked, will move fast and coincide with a busy time for everyone (baseball season, graduations, vacations, etc.). Great effort will be made to push updates out and to solicit feedback, but everyone will need to be equally disciplined if you desire to stay abreast, informed, and share your views.
Why would we move at this pace and at this time of year? I’ve addressed this before, but recall that our next school year starts in September. Our next superintendent may very well be a superintendent at some other district right now. Just like we wouldn’t want to be in a position where our sitting superintendent would leave mere days before the start of the next school year, we don’t want to put our preferred candidate or that district in such a position. I’ve seen at least one district lose out on a preferred candidate because their offer as made too close to the next school year and he did not want to leave his current district in the lurch.
We also have the opportunity to provide a reasonable overlap term with Dr. Klein to facilitate the transition. It would be a shame to squander that opportunity.
Much more detail will follow in terms of the stages of the process. The district website has already carved out a page dedicated to this activity and it will be populated with much more information. Consider bookmarking it, “friending” GPPSS on Facebook, following GPPSS on Twitter, emailing the Board and/or district administrators to learn more.
Bottom line: Stay tuned and buckle up as we commence in earnest this exciting process.