Company makes pitch to help with hire of Castle Rock superintendent
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:55 AM PDT
By Barbara LaBoe
blaboe@tdn.com
Printable version
E-mail this articleCASTLE ROCK - Touting local connections and a national network, the second superintendent search company made its pitch to the school board Tuesday night.
Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson LLC offers a network of contacts for applicants as well as state-based consultants to ensure each district gets what it wants, Randy Nelson told the board. Two former superintendents in Washington would work the Castle Rock selection process with the board, Nelson said.
"We want this to have a local flavor for you, and it's important we have Washington people working with you so that they understand the local issues," Nelson said. "And small, rural districts are our bread and butter as a company."
The company has conducted more than 300 superintendent searches nationwide, Nelson said, and they have a 95 percent retention rate of superintendents in the past five years, Nelson said.
The fee is $6,500 or $7,500 depending on whether the district takes the company up on a year of support after the superintendent starts. Mileage, meals and advertising expenses would be on top of that but should be minimal, Nelson said.
The board is replacing Rick Wilde who left the district in December. Susan Barker is the interim superintendent for this school year. The goal is to have a new superintendent hired by March and on the job in July. Castle Rock officials hope that by starting early, they can attract and hire the cream of the crop of applicants.
The board interviewed the first of four search companies on Aug. 12. The third and fourth interviews will be Sept. 9 and Sept. 11.
In other business the board:
n Was told the district's schools and teachers are ready for the first day of school on Sept. 2.
n Was told the demolition work on the former Vader School is complete. The board wanted the work done by the start of school.
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