State Board forms seven-member superintendent selection committee after contested votes

The State Board of Education voted to create a seven-member selection committee to screen and interview candidates for the next state superintendent, approving a final membership list after a series of substitute motions and roll-call votes.

Board Chair Matt Jaimas appointed an initial slate of seven members and opened floor discussion before the full board considered motions to modify that list. After debate and two substitute motions, the board approved a motion adding Cole Kelly in place of Leanne Wood by an 8-7 vote. The board then voted to adopt the list as presented in a subsequent motion, which passed 12-3, concluding agenda item 10.

The selection committee will perform initial screening and interviews. Michelle Watts, HR director of field operations for the State Board, told members the HR office can post the job on the state jobs website, assist with targeted recruiting and outreach, and help craft interview questions. “We are here to talk about the superintendent recruitment process and resources,” Watts said, adding that paid postings (for example on LinkedIn or Indeed) would come from the board’s budget.

The board discussed the committee’s role and limits under existing bylaws and related guidance. Board counsel clarified that ‘‘following the work of the selection committee, the board may recall final candidates for second interviews’’ and that the appointment of the superintendent must occur by a vote of the board in an open meeting. Members also discussed using executive session for portions of the process that are permissible to close, such as candidate evaluations, while keeping the final appointment public.

Members repeatedly raised procedural concerns: some argued the committee should include newer board members to reflect recent elections, others said longer-serving members bring necessary institutional knowledge for a choice that will affect the agency for years. Several members warned of the time commitment involved in screening and interviewing candidates; Watts estimated that, for example, 10 one-hour interviews would represent roughly 10 hours of interviewing time, not including resume review.

The final confirmed committee membership reflects the board’s adjustments during the meeting. The board chair said HR staff would follow up with members and that the HR office would help post the vacancy and support outreach and logistics. Chair Matt Jaimas closed the item saying the discussion had been difficult: “that was the most unpleasant portion that I’ve ever sat through in these 4-plus years,” he said, and the board moved on to its next agenda item.

Votes at a glance: The motion to add Cole Kelly in place of Leanne Wood passed 8-7. An earlier substitute motion to add Randy Booth in place of Leanne Wood failed (recorded as 7-7 with 1 abstention). The final motion to adopt the list as presented passed 12-3.