School district chooses search firm, begins process of hiring new superintendent

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City School District hopes to have a new superintendent hired by the end of April.

The district board of directors met in a special session on Wednesday to pick a search firm to help fill the spot which will be vacated by Mike Fisher on June 30. After four years in Charles City, Fisher has accepted a position as superintendent in his hometown of Oskaloosa.

The board entertained three proposals from regional search firms and opted to work with Grundmeyer Leader Services, based in Ankeny. Grundmeyer is the same firm the district worked with when it hired Fisher to replace Dan Cox four years ago.

Director David Schrodt said he preferred Grundmeyer over the other two search firms.

“I thought they were the most thorough,” Schrodt said. “They are also data-based, and I liked that.”

Board President Pat Rottinghaus agreed.

“I also liked Grundmeyer,” she said. “I gravitate toward their emphasis on personality inventories and things like that. That’s right up my alley.”

The rest of the board members also expressed positive impressions of Grundmeyer, and voted unanimously in favor of that firm.

Grundmeyer’s proposal included $12,305.76 for marketing and consultation and $401.74 for travel accommodations, for a total fee of $12,707.50. The district is billed $2,500 at the start of the search to cover marketing and travel costs and invoiced the remainder of the search fees at the substantial conclusion of the search process.

The district plans to hold formal interviews with finalists for the job the week of April 25. The timeline for hiring a new superintendent includes an application period from March 11 through April 3, with the school board reviewing the candidate pool the week of April 11, and semi-finalist interviews the week of April 18.

The school district is looking for volunteers to participate on the interview committee. Information is available on the district’s website. There is also a survey on the website that can be filled out so individuals can anonymously give feedback on the desired qualifications of a new superintendent in Charles City.