Special superintendent search school board meeting postponed until Monday

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Due to the weather, Tuesday night’s special school board meeting to hear proposals from  firms regarding the search for a new Charles City superintendent of schools has been postponed until next Monday, April 9.

Three search firms — McPherson and Jacobson, Ray and Associates, and Grundmeyer Leader Search — will address the board at that time and make their presentations.

The school board will discuss the proposals and consider whether to take action to hire a search firm.

If the board selects one of the three firms, it may engage with the selected firm right away to establish the timeline and the process for the superintendent search. The board may also take action regarding the search process details.

These are the first steps in hiring a new school chief.

After five years as superintendent at Charles City, Dan Cox announced his resignation in order to accept a new position as chief administrator of the Northwest Area Education Agency, based in Sioux City. His resignation will take effect June 30.

The special meeting will take place at 5 p.m. before Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, and will be open to the public.

The three firms have already presented written proposals to the district, which are available to the public.

• McPherson and Jacobson, an executive recruitment and development firm based in Omaha, offers a five-phase plan that typically helps a district select a finalist in 2-3 months. According to its proposal, the firm has more than 1,000 consultants across the nation and has placed more than 675 superintendents and other public and non-profit officials to administrative positions across the nation. McPerson and Jacobson asks for $7,500, with fees and expenses not to exceed $9,950.

• Ray and Associates is an executive search group based in Cedar Rapids which has conducted superintendent searches for more than 42 years, according to its proposal. The firm will establish a timeline specific to the Charles City School District and says its process can be adjusted to meet the district’s specific needs. It asks for a $6,500 fee for its services, although the firm says in its proposal that if the school board selects only certain elements offered in the package, or requests services not included in the package, that the fees and expenses will be adjusted accordingly.

• Grundmeyer Leader Search, based in Ankeny, offers a five-step plan in its proposal, with a tentative timeline that selects a new superintendent by the estimated date of May 13. The firm says it will work with the new superintendent through July 1 to help the selected candidate establish a entry into the school district. The firm says that it can adjust that timeline in conjunction with the needs of the school board. Grundmeyer estimates the total cost of a full search at $9,989.36, although the firm says that the district may choose to conduct some steps in the search on its own, and in that case the total cost will be reduced.

Complete details of the proposals by all three firms are available on the Charles City School District’s website.