Ontario-Montclair district begins steps toward finding a new superintendent
ONTARIO - The Ontario-Montclair School District is on its way to finding a new superintendent.
At a special board meeting on Tuesday at the Briggs Education Center, a presentation to the Board of Trustees was made by the California School Boards Association describing the superintendent selection process.
Although Superintendent Virgil Barnes has not formally resigned, it was understood that when he came out of retirement to take the job in May 2008 he would retire again soon.
"(He) has not given any specific date as to when he'll be leaving, but we know he doesn't plan on coming back the next school year," said Jim Kidwell, OMSD deputy superintendent of human resources.
"But I'm sure there will be an announcement sometime before July 1. He's going to re-retire."
The meeting was purely informational and marked the first of many meetings regarding the search. It also provided board members with a glimpse of what a full search would entail if they did it on their own or if they hired a consultant firm.
"This isn't like hiring a principal," California School Boards Association consultant Laun Rivera said. "This is one of the most important jobs the school board has, and it's going to be an extensive process."
Starting the superintendent search this early is recommended because of the size of the district, Rivera said.
"You want to get the word out widely for that perfect person, and it is important for the board to have the new superintendent overlap with the current superintendent," she said.
Rivera provided the board with tips for:
• Planning the search and timeline.
• Developing a leadership profile, which would establish criteria and requirements for a successful candidate and gather widespread staff, parent and community input.
• Advertisement
• How to screen applicants
• Interviewing and hiring
At next week's board meeting, members plan to determine if the district will conduct the search or hire a consultant.
If the latter, they would request bids regarding the search for consultant firms.
At a special board meeting on Tuesday at the Briggs Education Center, a presentation to the Board of Trustees was made by the California School Boards Association describing the superintendent selection process.
Although Superintendent Virgil Barnes has not formally resigned, it was understood that when he came out of retirement to take the job in May 2008 he would retire again soon.
"(He) has not given any specific date as to when he'll be leaving, but we know he doesn't plan on coming back the next school year," said Jim Kidwell, OMSD deputy superintendent of human resources.
"But I'm sure there will be an announcement sometime before July 1. He's going to re-retire."
The meeting was purely informational and marked the first of many meetings regarding the search. It also provided board members with a glimpse of what a full search would entail if they did it on their own or if they hired a consultant firm.
"This isn't like hiring a principal," California School Boards Association consultant Laun Rivera said. "This is one of the most important jobs the school board has, and it's going to be an extensive process."
Starting the superintendent search this early is recommended because of the size of the district, Rivera said.
"You want to get the word out widely for that perfect person, and it is important for the board to have the new superintendent overlap with the current superintendent," she said.
Rivera provided the board with tips for:
• Planning the search and timeline.
• Developing a leadership profile, which would establish criteria and requirements for a successful candidate and gather widespread staff, parent and community input.
• Advertisement
• How to screen applicants
• Interviewing and hiring
At next week's board meeting, members plan to determine if the district will conduct the search or hire a consultant.
If the latter, they would request bids regarding the search for consultant firms.
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