Board invokes warranty with Ray and Associates for superintendent search

The Board of Education voted to proceed with Ray and Associates, invoking a warranty the firm offered during the previous search, to conduct the district’s superintendent search.

Interim Deputy Superintendent Drew Tong presented three options: run a new request for proposals (RFP), invoke the warranty with Ray and Associates from the prior search, or delay the process. Tong said the RFP option would cost the district more and take longer, with typical search-firm fees ranging from “about 5 to $7,000 on the low end” up to “$30,000 to $35,000” depending on scope. Invoking Ray and Associates’ warranty would avoid those procurement costs, he said, leaving only normal candidate travel expenses for the district.

Tong said Ray and Associates told district staff the firm would be flexible about which associates work on the search and that one associate who had been more involved previously, Molly, “would be more involved in this process if we wanted her to be.” Tong said the firm expressed a desire to “make it right” after the prior search.

Board member John Jones said he supported using Ray and Associates, calling the choice “fiscally responsible” and adding that he expected the firm to “do a great job this time around.”

A board member moved and another seconded a motion to use Ray and Associates under the warranty; the board approved the motion by voice/hand vote. Tong said Ray and Associates asked to convene with the board early the following week by Zoom to confirm expectations, staffing and an updated timeline. Staff will schedule that meeting and return to the board with updates.

Tong and board members also noted an option to do nothing, which they said would delay the search and could put the district behind others that are already recruiting candidates. The board did not adopt the RFP route at this time and instead directed staff to work with Ray and Associates under the warranty.