Photo by Jessa Pease.
Susan Salter.
Susan Salter, the director of board development with AASB, explained the services that AASB would provide if chosen.
The Hoover Board of Education declared intent to hire a research firm to aid them in the selection of a permanent superintendent at the Jan. 12 meeting.
The Alabama Association of School Board (AASB), which is a major contender for the position, made a presentation to the board. The board then voted to call an additional board meeting Jan. 16 at 7:30 a.m. At that time the board will vote on a superintendent finder service, and any other firm will have the opportunity to make a presentation.
If chosen, AASB's service would cost Hoover City Schools a total of $21,200. Board of Education President Donna Frazier and board members Derrick Murphy and Craig Kelley voiced their support of AASB. Frazier also said that AASB reached out to her immediately after hearing that former superintendent Andy Craig would be leaving. She said no other firm contacted her.
“I know AASB was very helpful, [board member] Earl [Cooper] has said time and time again, as he was…trying to locate an interim superintendent for Hoover City Schools,” Frazier said. “They were extremely helpful with his process. AASB is our governing body, so to speak. I’ve been on this board for 10 years. I have attended a lot of conferences and have always been very impressed with Alabama Association of School Boards.”
Susan Salter, the director of board development with AASB, made the presentation to the board and explained the services that AASB would provide if chosen. She also gave the board a very “ambitious” timeline, which would conceivably kick-off on Jan. 19 with an online survey.
The schedule showed the board naming a permanent superintendent by the end of May, which would give the named superintendent one month of overlap to work with the current interim superintendent Dr. Jim Reese. Reese’s term will expire the end of June.
“The primary thing that we bring to the table is that we handle the leg work for you,” Salter said. “We handle the application process, the screening process and the recruiting process so that the board is free to focus on the things that are clearly critical — choosing the qualifications of your next leader.”
Even if they use with a firm's services, the board would still make the final decision concerning the permanent superintendent. The role of the research firm would solely be to bring the board a number of candidates that fit the needs of the board.
In the past year to 18 months, AASB has conducted 19 searches across the state including ones in Athens, Auburn, Gardendale, Lee County and Oneonta. The firm has already been hired for two other superintendent searches.
The board of education also,
- Recognized the thespians from both Hoover and Spain Park high schools. About 30 theater students placed in the state one-act competition. Spain Park placed first overall at the state competition for the third year in a row and will represent Alabama at the regional level.
- Approved Dr. Jim Reese’s contract as the interim superintendent.
- Approved the textbook committee members.
- Approved a special education services contract.
- Tabled a tower lease agreement for a future board meeting. This is a communication system that the board would like more information about.
The next regular board meeting will be Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m. A called board meeting will take place Jan. 16 at 7:30 a.m.
