The search for a new superintendent for the Oconto Falls School District has been narrowed from 28 to six candidates.
“The board was pretty happy with the number of applicants we had, and out of that we have some pretty high quality candidates,” School Board President Ron Leja said.
Of the 28 applicants, nine are past or current superintendents, 10 are principals, 21 are men and four live out of state. The school district did not disclose whether any of the candidates currently work for the district.
Superintendent Dave Polashek, who will retire June 30, said hiring a superintendent is “probably the most important job (School Board members) have.”
“Definitely,” Leja said. “It’s one thing you don’t want to make a mistake on.”
That’s why the School Board hired a consultant to assist with the process, he added.
The consultant on April 21 presented six applications to the board. The consultant also helped develop a profile of qualities the district should seek in a new superintendent, using input from board members and data collected in a community survey completed by 304 people.
The profile lists desirable qualities in the areas of instruction/technology, finance/operations, community involvement and personal characteristics.
Leja said the board wants to involve district employees and the community in the hiring process, and the survey was one way to accomplish this.
Of the 304 who participated in the survey, 176 (58 percent) were parents of current or former students, 66 (22 percent) were teachers or licensed staff members, and 65 (22 percent) were community members.
The board is scheduled to interview the top six candidates Thursday before narrowing the field to two or three candidates who will return for a second interview May 7.
Two committees, composed of community members, school administrators and school employees, are scheduled to interview the finalists May 7.
The School Board is scheduled to make the final selection as early as May 7 after considering the committees’ input. At the May 11 School Board meeting, the board is scheduled to present an offer and approve a contract for a superintendent, who will start work July 1.
The School Board and its consultant have discussed a salary range based on what’s appropriate for a school district the size of Oconto Falls, Polashek said.
Polashek’s salary is $145,486.
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