Seattle school board authorizes RFP to start superintendent search; directors voice concerns about timing and scope

The Seattle School District No. 1 Board of Directors voted unanimously March 25 to authorize the board president, with assistance from district staff, to finalize a statement of work and evaluative criteria and to initiate a request for proposals for an executive search firm to help identify candidates for superintendent.

The vote authorizes the board president to finalize the RFP materials and directs procurement to post the solicitation promptly; Vice President Briggs moved the motion and Director Mizrahi seconded. Board members discussed a compressed timeline, whether the current board should select a long‑term superintendent given four seats will turn over after the November election, and whether the firm should be treated as a “process” vendor rather than the sole source of candidates.

Board President Taub told directors that the procurement process would post the RFP immediately, with proposals due April 8 and an initial board review scheduled April 9. The board plans to identify three finalists for interviews the week of April 17–18 and to select a firm at a special board meeting on April 23, with a formal vote at the board’s regular meeting on April 23. Vice President Briggs read the motion on the record: "I move that the school board…