Eagle Point School District 9 board members on Aug. 27 discussed how to run the district's upcoming superintendent search and agreed to request additional information and short virtual presentations from outside search firms while leaving open the option of conducting the search in-house.

The board met for a special session and approved the meeting agenda by roll call before turning to the superintendent search materials. A board member moved to approve the agenda "for the 08/27/2025 special meeting as presented," and the motion passed by roll call with all members present voting yes (Missus McIntyre, Mister Stone, Missus Strittenberg, Mister Wolf, Mister Graves, Mister Kovach).

Board members reviewed four proposals the district had used previously'Ray & Associates, the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA), McPherson & Jacobson, and Human Capital Enterprises'and discussed adding Northwest Leadership Associates and Hazard, Young & Associates (HYA) to the pool. Ray & Associates'whose materials in the packet list an estimated total search cost of $26,250'and McPherson & Jacobson were mentioned repeatedly as firms some board members would consider. Several board members raised concerns about vendor experience in Oregon and whether national firms would recruit candidates who fit Eagle Point.

"They all were willing to adjust the schedules and time lines based on yours," a board member said while summarizing vendor timelines; another board member noted Ray & Associates'and others'propose candidate interview-related reimbursable expenses of roughly $2,000 per interview for out-of-state candidates. Superintendent Andy said his contract runs out on June 30, 2026, and he indicated willingness to stay longer if necessary; board members treated that date as a key planning constraint for any search timeline.

Discussion focused on two approaches: (1) a third-party-led, more comprehensive process with community engagement and screening conducted by the vendor; or (2) an expedited, in-house search using district staff and board resources, with a third party as a contingency. Board members who favored a vendor cited broader reach, assistance vetting candidates and community engagement; those favoring an internal search cited cost savings and confidence in the district's ability to post to standard state and national administrator job boards.

Board members asked vendors whether the district could (and should) insist on seeing all applications rather than only the subset the firm recommends, and to what extent firms would accommodate an abbreviated timeline. The board directed staff to request written proposals and to invite three firms'McPherson & Jacobson, Ray & Associates and Northwest Leadership Associates'to provide short (about 10-minute) virtual presentations at the board's early September work session so trustees could ask detailed questions about screening methods and flexibility on timeline and deliverables.

Administrators noted there were no additional funds budgeted in fiscal services, the superintendent's office or human resources specifically for a superintendent search, and board members acknowledged an internal search would trade higher staff time for lower direct out-of-pocket costs. Members also discussed timing for posting: several firms'and a drafting timeline shared with trustees'suggested application windows that close in December with finalist selection in late winter; board members debated whether that schedule would attract top candidates.

The board did not select or award a contract at the meeting. Instead trustees agreed to collect more information: ask the three named firms and Northwest Leadership Associates for written responses about screening processes, whether they will provide all applications on request, whether they will accommodate an abbreviated timeline, and whether they will present virtually at the Sept. 12 work session. If the board is not satisfied with applicant pools after an internal posting, several members said they would use an outside firm as a backup.

The meeting closed with the board asking staff to circulate proposal packets and to schedule the virtual presentations. No formal vendor contract or hiring decision was made during the Aug. 27 special meeting.