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Germantown panel outlines multi-step search and approves Dr. Barrett to lead McArthur
Summary
The Germantown personnel committee described a multi-stage principal search for McArthur that included family and staff surveys, community and staff interview panels, reference checks and confidentiality agreements; the board approved Dr. Barrett following that process, district officials said Sept. 2.
The Germantown School District’s personnel committee on Sept. 2 described a multi-stage selection process that led to the district’s appointment of Dr. Barrett as principal of McArthur Elementary and said the board voted to approve his contract after closed- and open-session interviews.
District human-resources lead Dr. Castro told the committee the hiring process began after McArthur families were informed Aug. 8 that Mr. Gonzales would not return as principal and included a family and staff survey, screening interviews, community and staff performance tasks and reference checks.
Why it matters: McArthur opened this school year with a new principal. Committee members said documenting the timeline, the community and staff involvement, the confidentiality safeguards and the reference checks was intended to show the district followed a deliberate process before presenting a candidate for board approval.
District timeline and process details presented to the committee included: a families-and-staff survey sent Aug. 13; screening interviews Aug. 15; notification to finalists Aug. 17; in-person finalist interviews and performance tasks Aug. 21 with separate community and staff panels; follow-up reference checks and “wonderings” pursued Aug. 21–24; and offer discussions Aug. 24–26. Dr. Castro said a pool of 46 applicants produced 33 candidates with administrative experience and four finalists invited to the Aug. 21 interviews.
Dr. Castro described how the panels worked: community members and staff were randomly selected from volunteers (with two PTA-selected participants), candidates performed community and academic tasks tied to survey priorities, panel members recorded confidential, anonymous rankings and the facilitators tallied results. He said all committee members signed confidentiality agreements and were asked to list “strengths and wonderings” after each candidate’s performance.
Dr. Castro said the three top attributes families named in the survey — ‘‘prioritizing creating a safe and nurturing environment for students’’ (about 85.8 percent), ‘‘strong communicator with parents, staff and students’’ (about 79.6 percent) and ‘‘focus on academic achievement’’ (about 61.9 percent) — were the basis for the candidates’ 30-60-90 plans and the community performance task.
Committee members described additional checks and safeguards. Dr. Castro said the district conducted reference checks and resolved questions before completing the hire, and added: “We did nothing against state statute.” The committee identified the relevant statutory guidance during the meeting as Wisconsin Statutes s. 118.22 (teacher contract rules) and s. 118.24 (administrator contract rules), which staff cited while explaining timing and contract coordination with the candidate’s previous district.
Board members and staff described the decision as unanimous to present Dr. Barrett for approval after the panels and a closed-session interview. The committee chair said the open vote to approve the contract followed the closed-session interviews and confirmed that contract approval is handled in open session for this type of employment action.
The committee also discussed operational details for the transition: interim principal Alejandra Krolick provided a crossover plan and remained available during the start of the school year, and district leaders said they coordinated with Dr. Barrett’s previous district on timing and financial items tied to his prior tuition assistance so there would be no period in which he held two active contracts.
What the committee recorded as formal action: the personnel committee and district administration recommended Dr. Barrett for the McArthur principalship and the board approved his contract in open session (the transcript records the approval but does not show motion text or a roll-call vote in the meeting transcript provided).
Looking ahead, district leaders said they will continue to review and refine the administrative hiring process after collecting feedback from candidates and committee members.
Ending: Committee members said the district will bring Dr. Barrett before the board or committees early in his tenure to present his plans and allow for community introduction and follow-up.
