MUSD to partner with ASBA in superintendent search

The search is on for a new superintendent in the Maricopa Unified School District. Almost.

If a search agreement is approved Wednesday night by the Governing Board, the district will pay the Arizona School Board Association $9,600 to assist in the hunt.

The services provided by ASBA would “include up to seven pre- and post-hire meetings with the Board, ASBA administrative support, use of ASBA’s applicant tracking system, ASBA intellectual capital, and up to four finalist background checks,” according to district documents.

MUSD has just over seven months to fill the leadership position before current Superintendent Steve Chestnut leaves the district. Whoever fills his shoes must begin work July 1, 2018.

The district made its first step in the process in early November, when the Governing Board voted unanimously to hire ASBA. The decision was first discussed by the board in executive session during a board meeting Nov. 8.

Assisting the district in narrowing down vendors – which ranged from MUSD’s own Human Resources department to large, national firms — was its legal rubric. Governing Board President Patti Coutré said the board’s evaluation favored ASBA.

“They came out the highest scoring, and that’s why we chose them,” Coutré said earlier this month.

After a three-week break from meetings, the board will return Wednesday evening to present an overview of the search process.

The board was originally scheduled to discuss four other items relating to the superintendent search on its Nov. 29 agenda, but removed them Monday morning.

Items removed included an online survey to collect opinions from the community, a discussion on the extent of stakeholder involvement in the search process, advertising materials and related content.

Instead of getting ahead of itself, the district decided to amend its agenda once more Tuesday morning to include possibly approving an additional meeting in the future to continue the discussion beyond its regular meetings.

After a discussion from an ASBA representative, “we thought it would be better for our board members to have more time to be fully prepared and a better use of time to wait,” Coutré said Tuesday afternoon.

“After a second discussion, we thought of having a special board meeting for these items that would allow our board members to be prepared, and not wait for the next regular scheduled board meeting,” she added.

MUSD will decide the date of that additional meeting Wednesday night, during which time the board will also consider talks with the Human Resources Department in a revision of its hourly wages for classified employees.

Wednesday’s meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office Administration Building, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy.

---

MOBILE USERS GET NEWS FIRST. Download InMaricopa for Apple and Android devices.