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Superintendent search: consultant reports 1,541 survey responses; board invites four finalists to interview
Summary
Consultant Ed Ogle reported results of a 1,541‑response community survey and the board—after executive session—directed the consultant to invite four candidates to the next interview round. The board voted unanimously to advance the named applicants to finalist interviews.
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — The Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board heard an update March 6 on its superintendent search and, after a confidential screening in executive session, voted unanimously to invite four candidates to the next round of board interviews.
Consultant Ed Ogle reviewed a community survey of 1,541 respondents that the district used to shape search priorities. Ogle told the board 61 percent of survey respondents identified as parents, about 28 percent as certified employees, 9 percent as educational support professionals, and 126 respondents were students. He said the survey gave the board clear priorities: communication and transparency; teacher and staff support and development; and fiscal responsibility.
"Communication and transparency clearly was a very important issue to the patrons of your school district," Ogle said as he summarized the results.
Executive session and board action
The board conducted confidential applicant screening in executive session under Arizona Revised Statutes §38-431.03. After reconvening publicly in the early hours of March 7, the board voted to provide direction to the consultant and to invite candidates identified in executive session as B, E, F and G to participate in governing board interviews for the superintendent position. The motion passed unanimously (5‑0).
Search timeline and pool
Ogle told the board the search produced a competitive pool that includes several experienced superintendents and candidates from multiple states; he said the board will interview candidates in executive session and then name public finalists. The consultant said the board has scheduled final interviews on March 25 and that the district planned community input sessions during the finalist phase. Ogle reported the board received 12 formal applications to review in the executive session screening.
Questions and transparency
Board members asked procedural questions about the number of applicants, which candidates were reviewed in public at the applicants’ request and how the district would structure finalist visits. Ogle noted one candidate, Dr. Desmond Moulton, had requested public review of his application; Ogle summarized that the candidate did not meet several of the district’s published desired qualifications (including having prior superintendent experience) but clarified no board action was required on that single request. The board proceeded to executive session for confidential screening and returned to take public direction consistent with that closed discussion.
Speakers quoted or cited in this article are identified in the speaker list below.
