Cumberland County Board begins superintendent search with national firm McPherson & Jacobson

Consultants from McPherson & Jacobson detailed a multi‑phase superintendent search plan to the Cumberland County Board of Education during committee meetings Feb. 27, saying the firm would recruit nationally, vet applicants and coordinate stakeholder input before returning finalists for the board to interview.

The consultants — Barry Carroll and Dr. Deborah White of McPherson & Jacobson — told the board the search is intended to be driven by the board’s priorities and community input. “This is your search,” Carroll said. “We use our process — we’re flexible and we’ll work with what you say you want.”

The firm outlined five phases: (1) define desired characteristics and advertise the posting; (2) hold stakeholder meetings and collect online survey input; (3) recruit and vet applicants with thorough background checks; (4) present a vetted short list and videos for board review; and (5) support transition and establish performance objectives for the new superintendent. Dr. White described the vetting as intensive, including reference checks, digital background checks and candidate videos in which applicants present a 90‑day plan.

Consultants and board members discussed logistics and confidentiality. The firm advised keeping applicant names confidential during recruitment to encourage candidates who are currently employed to apply; board counsel confirmed personnel confidentiality protections under North Carolina law apply to applicant names. The contract with McPherson & Jacobson covers producing up to five candidate videos and four background checks; the firm said additional recruitment or advertising options would add cost.

Board members raised several topics for the candidate profile: strong communication skills, proven ability to improve student outcomes, fiscal and managerial competence, team‑building, transparency and familiarity with Cumberland County’s school settings. Consultants asked each board member to submit characteristics; the firm will compile board and stakeholder input and post the application when the profile is finalized.

Tentative timeline presented in the meeting (subject to board confirmation): consultants hope to post the application materials the week of March 4; stakeholder meetings and the K‑12 Insight online survey are targeted for early to mid‑April; the application window was described as closing around April 10; consultants expected to present a short list and videos in late April/early May and for the board to select finalists by early May, with a July 1 start date for the new superintendent if necessary transition steps are completed.

The consultants emphasized they will serve primarily as recruiters and advisers once finalists are selected; the board retains decision authority for interviews and hiring. They also described a two‑year guarantee in the signed contract: if a placed superintendent leaves within two years for a covered reason, the firm will re‑run the search at no additional fee (expenses excluded).