The Eagle Point School District 9 board of directors voted unanimously Sept. 12 to hire McPherson & Jacobson to run the district’s superintendent search, following presentations from four firms. The motion to approve McPherson & Jacobson passed on a roll call vote with all directors voting yes.

Board members heard hourlong presentations from search firms that included Ray (Rea) & Associates, Northwest Leadership Associates and the team presenting as “McPherson & Jacobson” (presenters Doug Nelson and Heidi). Firms described a multi-stage search including board input and stakeholder engagement, a community survey, candidate screening and background checks. McPherson & Jacobson proposed a flexible, locally oriented process and estimated a base fee of about $11,900 plus expenses (the firm’s proposal noted roughly $5,100 in estimated expenses). The board discussed the tradeoffs between in‑person community engagement and virtual meetings and asked firms about transparency, application access and the firm’s guarantee.

Doug Nelson of McPherson & Jacobson told the board, “This is your search; we work for you,” describing the firm’s role as structuring the search and bringing candidates while leaving final decisions to the board. Board members said they weighed firms’ local experience, community engagement plans and cost; several directors said they favored the firm that emphasized tailoring outreach to local needs and flexibility on in‑person engagement.

After a brief discussion, Director McIntyre asked staff to notify the other firms of the board’s decision. The motion to hire McPherson & Jacobson was made and seconded (mover/second not specified in the public record) and approved on a roll call. The board asked staff to send engagement materials and follow up about next steps and timeline after firm contract details are finalized.

The board also discussed timeline options offered by firms: some recommended advertising the vacancy in January, when many potential candidates begin considering moves, while others discussed an accelerated calendar. Directors emphasized they want the final timeline to match the board’s availability and community engagement needs.

Next steps recorded in the meeting included notifying unsuccessful firms, finalizing a search timeline with McPherson & Jacobson and scheduling board interviews and stakeholder sessions as part of the firm’s multi‑stage process. No supplemental contract details or formal procurement documents were approved during the meeting; the action on Sept. 12 authorized the board to proceed with McPherson & Jacobson as the search consultant.