Worcester County Board selects MABE to run superintendent search, outlines timeline and confidentiality

The Worcester County Board of Education on Feb. 11 heard a presentation from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) on the process MABE will use to recruit and screen candidates for the district's next superintendent.

Milton Nagle, MABE's executive director, and Dr. Edward Shirley, a retired superintendent serving as part of the search team, told the board the process is divided into planning, advertising/recruitment, screening and finalist phases and stressed confidentiality and legal defensibility throughout the search. "Confidentiality is at the top of the list," Nagle said.

The consultants recommended a timeline that would allow the board to name a successor on or before July 1 so a new superintendent could "hit the ground running," while noting that the board may appoint an interim if it cannot reach unanimous agreement on a candidate. Nagle said state law requires a superintendent contract to be for four years once appointed and that MABE will work with the State Department of Education (MSDE) to confirm candidates meet Maryland certification rules.

Nagle described the search team and its phases: establishing a board point person and a public spokesperson, conducting stakeholder input sessions (in-person, virtual or electronic as the board prefers), broad advertising (national or limited by board direction), a structured first-round interview process to enable consistent grading, deeper background checks and site visits for finalists, and public-facing finalist events. He said MABE's fee is cost-recovery only and that incidental posting costs would be billed to the district.

Board members asked procedural questions about scope and contingency planning. A board member asked whether the board could limit the search to Maryland candidates; Nagle said "That's a board call" and added the board can decide what geographic focus to advertise. Dr. Edward Shirley noted the search team will ensure candidates meet legal certification requirements under COMAR and the Annotated Code of Maryland and will liaise with MSDE to avoid surprises in the certification step.

The consultants recommended that stakeholder interview groups ask identical questions of each candidate to ensure fairness and suggested the board identify a spokesperson to handle public inquiries during the confidential stages. Nagle said the team would provide a timeline and a protocols document for the board to sign, which would include confidentiality commitments and meeting milestones.

Next steps: MABE will provide the board a draft timeline and protocol, the board will select committee members and a board point person, and the board will set dates to develop candidate criteria, advertising parameters and interview questions. MABE said it will also assist with sample contract language and with identifying common elements of superintendent contracts in Maryland. The board and MABE planned follow-up meetings to finalize logistics and begin stakeholder outreach.

Ending: The board will receive the MABE timeline and protocols and begin scheduling committee meetings and stakeholder sessions; MABE said it will be in regular contact with the board as the search proceeds.