Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home School Board adopted a calendar and an outline of standards and qualifications for hiring a new superintendent during its monthly meeting last week.
The board approved them 9-0 during its regular meeting on Nov. 9.
Retired Sweet Home High School Principal Keith Winslow has been filling in as superintendent since Don Schrader resigned for personal reasons in December.
The district posted notice of the vacancy on Oct. 14.
A search committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
“That will be our first meeting of the committee,” Winslow said. The committee will receive a document outlining the process, with everything related to the search. The members will receive sheets for rating candidates and lists of interview questions.
“They will help with the screening of the applicants,” Winslow said. “They’ll help in round-one interviews. They’ll make recommendations of finalists to the board.”
From there, the School Board and Winslow will conduct a second round of interviews and then do site visits to learn more about candidates for the position.
The application period closes on Jan. 8.
From Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, the search committee will screen the applicants. They will debrief on Jan. 14, select interview candidates and receive interview training.
Interviews will be held from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4, with selection of finalists on Feb. 4.
The School Board will conduct reference checks and site visits Feb. 9 through Feb. 12.
From Feb. 16 to Feb. 19, the district will host a meet-and-greet for finalists.
The board will conduct the second round of interviews Feb. 23 and Feb. 24.
On Feb. 24, the board will discuss the second interviews, reference checks and site visits and then select a new superintendent.
From Feb. 24 to March 4, Board Chairman Mike Reynolds and the district’s attorney will negotiate a tentative contract with the new superintendent.
The board will announce the new superintendent selection on March 14 and offer the new superintendent a contract.
The new superintendent will begin work on July 1.
The search committee includes the School Board – Chanz Keeney, Jenny Daniels, Angela Clegg, Debra Brown, Jason Van Eck, Carol Babcock, Jason Redick, Nick Augsburger and Mike Reynolds.
It also includes staff members Supt. Keith Winslow; Julie Emmert, administrative secretary; Larry Horton, retired superintendent and Holley principal; current school principals Ralph Brown of Sweet Home High School; Todd Barrett of Holley; Luke Augsburger of Foster; Colleen Henry of Sweet Home Junior High; Kevin Strong, business manager; Josh Darwood, maintenance supervisor; Cheryl Hicks, transportation supervisor; Cathy Hurowitz, student achievement director; Lisa Canaday, representing district licensed staff; and Velma Canfield, representing district classified employees.
Representing the community on the search committee are Abby Hagle, Heather Search and Martha Wells.