At a special meeting Oct. 2, 2025, the Tonganoxie Board of Education voted 6-0 to proceed to interviews with three search firms — Grundmeyer Leader Search, Ray and Associates and the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) — as the district begins a superintendent search process.

Board members said the decision follows review of six request-for-proposal responses and is intended to let the board hear each firm’s approach before choosing one to lead the search. "The cost is fairly inconsequential," one board member said, adding that methodology and community engagement were the primary factors in choosing which firms to interview.

Board members described several factors that shaped their preferences: firms’ track records retaining hires for multiple years, concrete plans to gather stakeholder feedback (separate sessions for parents, students, staff and community), and a balance between firms with strong Kansas/regional experience and national firms that can reach a broader candidate pool. Several members said they favor interviewing at least one Kansas-based firm and at least one regional or national firm to ensure both local knowledge and wider reach.

The board discussed duration and format for interviews. Members preferred face-to-face interviews when possible but agreed Zoom was acceptable if scheduling required it. The board asked each firm for an indicative timeline and said it would give each firm equal presentation time; members estimated interviews would require roughly 30–60 minutes per firm and that interviewing three firms could fit into a single long evening if the board begins at about 5:30 p.m.

A motion to move to interviews with Grundmeyer Leader Search, Ray and Associates and the Kansas Association of School Boards was offered and seconded and carried on a voice vote, recorded as "motion carried 6 0." The chair said they would contact the three firms to coordinate schedules for next week and requested that board members submit specific questions in advance so the chair could compile them for use during the interviews.

Board members also noted the board’s recent history engaging search firms: the minutes of this discussion cite prior use of KASB, McPherson & Jacobson and others in previous superintendent searches. One member cautioned against stretching the timeline so long that strong candidates accept other positions; another emphasized the importance of thorough community input. The board did not select a firm at the meeting; the formal selection was left for a later vote after the interview stage.

Next steps: the chair will contact the three firms to arrange interview times (targeting Thursday next week if the firms can accommodate), collect and circulate board questions, and return to the board with scheduling details prior to the next regular meeting where the board hopes to act on a final recommendation.