The Hiawatha Unified School District Board heard a presentation on the district's superintendent search process from consultant Michelle Hubbard, who outlined a four‑phase plan and recommended timelines that would allow community input and candidate screening before a hire.

Hubbard said the search firm has proposed a phased process that includes stakeholder focus groups and surveys, screening and executive‑session candidate review, interviews and final negotiation. She described a public meeting, targeted outreach and an executive‑session screening meeting in late November or early December, and suggested a January 15 target for a new superintendent's start date if the board delays until after winter break.

The consultant said the search team will bring a written report of stakeholder input, a ranked applicant list in a green/yellow/red format for board review, and salary benchmarking for negotiation. "We will screen applicants and present a written report of what your stakeholders said," Hubbard said, adding the firm will provide a bank of interview questions and recommend protocols for public feedback if the board wants community input on finalists. Hubbard identified the vendor fee for a district this size as $5,500 plus expenses and said legal services for contract drafting are available through the firm.

Board members discussed timing, including competing goals: allowing potential applicants time to apply and avoiding having newly elected board members vote before they are sworn in. One board member said a January start gives candidates time to keep their current positions confidential while making a transition; another noted the final weeks of December are tight. Hubbard said December interviews are feasible but could be compressed and recommended the board confirm dates soon if it wants to complete the search before a board transition.

The firm's proposed community work includes: meetings with administrators and staff, focus groups with teachers and parents, a student survey, public marketing for the position, and stakeholder presentations that will feed the development of candidate characteristics. "We are going to formalize what stakeholders said and bring it to you so you can finalize the characteristics you want in the next superintendent," Hubbard said.

Board members asked whether newly elected members could participate in interviews before being sworn in; Hubbard warned of confidentiality and oath issues and recommended the board weigh whether to invite an apparent selectee or delay until newly sworn members can participate. Directors also discussed availability for stakeholder meetings and interview windows in early December versus January.

The board asked staff to work with the consultant on timing and to finalize meeting dates and public notices. No formal vote on timeline was recorded during the segment summarized here.