Previous Superintendent Search Updates

UPDATE FROM 8/18/09 BOARD MEETING

The Board has retained Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to conduct the superintendent search. HYA has begun the process of identifying potential candidates. They have also begun developing the profile of leadership qualities for the new superintendent. District staff have assisted HYA in identifying appropriate individuals and stakeholder groups to interview and meet with. The consultants have already met with several groups to provide input on the leadership profile, including principals and assistant principals; the African American Leadership Council; the Superintendent Advisory Group; the Senior Leadership Team and Tutoring Partners.Next month the consultants will meet with a wide variety of community members, including:

Elected officials (city council, county commissioners, legislative delegation and the County Attorney’s Office
Funders and strategic community partners
Business leaders
Parent advisory committee representatives and board advisory committee members, and
Site council and PTO/PTA leadership, among other groups.

The consultants will also meet with parents and other community members at Public Input Sessions that have been scheduled for Thursday, September 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Rondo Education Center. These sessions will be conducted in English, Hmong, Spanish and Somali. All SPPS families, employees and others in the community who have not had a chance to provide the input will be invited to attend and participate. Input may also be provided via the Leadership Profile Assessment located on the SPPS website.

To date those involved in the process have been very forthright and energetic with their input. Once the leadership profile is completed, the community will have an opportunity to meet and give impressions about the finalist or finalists when that stage is reached.

UPDATES FROM 7/20/09 BOARD MEETING

This was a planning meeting with the Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates consultants. Minutes can be found on this website under BOE Meeting Minutes, 2009, 7/20/09.

Superintendent search firm selected
In a special meeting, the Board of Education approved a contract with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, Ltd to conduct a superintendent search. The contract for $30,000 covers identification and recruitment of potential candidates, background and reference checks, identifying staff and community roles for the search process and more. The firm's work begins with the approval of the contract on July 14. The Board of Education will provide regular updates on the search at its Web site: boe.spps.org.

On June 15, the Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Superintendent Search Consultant was issued and is posted at the district's Purchasing & Contract Services Vendor Site (link to site). Proposals must be received in the district Purchasing Office by 4 p.m. on June 30.

The Board of Education has been working toward finalizing details of the Superintendent Search Process. The Broad Foundation has provided expert advice to the Board of Education regarding the superintendent search.

Given the work with Broad, considerations regarding limited capacity and the need for an expedited process, the Board of Education has reconsidered the need for external support regarding Superintendent recruitment. The plan now is to identify, through an RFP process, a consultant to assist the Board with the Superintendent search process and work with that consultant as soon as possible to find the next person to lead Saint Paul Public Schools.
The Board has drafted a candidate profile for the next permanent superintendent, which is largely based on the existing superintendent job description. A final profile will be available at the time the position is posted. The Board remains committed to a public engagement process that will include an opportunity for public input prior to the selection of the next superintendent. The Board has received interest from Schools and stakeholders who wish to help with the search process. The Board anticipates that stakeholder support for the search may include participation in the public engagement process, securing resources to support the search and sharing information related to the search as the process evolves.
All information and updates regarding the search will be posted to the Board's web page. In addition, there will be updates at each regular Board of Education meeting until a permanent is hired.
The goal is to have a superintendent in place during the 2009-10 school year, preferably this fall. The Board of Education remains committed to finding the best possible person to lead Saint Paul Public Schools and who will continue the improvement agenda started under Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen's leadership.
The District has a strategic plan built from community input and we have made significant systemic reforms over the last three years. Our intent is find a leader who can help us close the achievement gap and raise the bar on learning for all students.

Interim Superintendent Update

On March 24, members of the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education appointed Chief of Staff Suzanne Kelly as the District's Interim Superintendent. Chief of Staff Kelly will lead the District when Superintendent Meria Carstarphen's time with the District is finished. Chief of Staff Kelly will work closely with the current leadership team to ensure a smooth transition as the District works through Large-Scale System Changes and addresses an operating budget deficit and as the Board continues its search for the best candidate to serve as the District's next permanent superintendent.

Statement from the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education
(3/24/09)

At the March 24 Committee of the Board meeting, Board members offered some preliminary thoughts regarding the search process. These included:

The initial search will be a local/regional search
There are no plans to hire a national search firm at this point
There is a strong desire to have a new superintendent in place for the 2009-10 school year
It will be an open search process
The process will incorporate inclusive community involvement
Within ten days to two weeks the Board will be able to announce an interim superintendent to serve between the end of current superintendent’s tenure and the start of the new
Within 10 days to 2 weeks the Board will have a basic job description prepared.

Statement from the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education
(2/27/09)

While we understand and respect the superintendent's decision to leave SPPS, we are deeply saddened that she will no longer be superintendent after this school year. Our preference would be to have Dr. Carstarphen stay in St. Paul, but she has made her choice, and we must respect that. Austin is fortunate to have her leadership, and we will work with her over the next few months to complete the current school year and to work on a successful transition.

Together with Dr. Carstarphen and your dedication, we have moved the system forward through the Strategic Plan for Continued Excellence, the 2006 referendum, the development of Large-Scale System Changes, a more deliberate and expanded engagement process, and a facilities conditions assessment. That work will move ahead with your continued commitment and with the help of a dedicated and high functioning administrative team.

While we are absorbing the news about our superintendent, the Board of Education plans to meet soon to determine how to proceed with next steps, which may include identification of an interim superintendent and beginning steps for a superintendent search.

We all must and will stay focused on our mission of providing a premier education for all. Saint Paul Public Schools has been through successful transitions before and we remain strong and well positioned to do so again thanks to the improvements made over the last several years.

Thank you, again, for your support of Saint Paul students and families.
2-27-2009