Dr. Gruenewald, Edmond Public Schools superintendent, announced her retirement and told the board she plans to spend more time with family. “I had so much fun with my grandkids over break that I decided I need to be available to spend more time with them,” she said.

The announcement prefaced a vote by the board to hire the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) to coordinate the search for a successor. The board voted to approve OSSBA's basic services at a cost of $8,000; board members voted yes on the motion.

The board and OSSBA representatives described the expected scope of services. OSSBA representatives said the base package includes a timeline, a community survey to gather desired candidate attributes, and electronic access for board members to applications. OSSBA staff said additional services (focus groups, extra communications support, national advertising, travel stipends for candidates and in-depth background checks) are optional add-ons that can be added later.

Board members asked how quickly the search could be completed. OSSBA said timeline and scheduling are set by the board; some districts have opened applications for three to four weeks and proceeded to first-round interviews within about six weeks depending on board availability. Board members said they want the process finished before Dr. Gruenewald's planned departure in late spring.

The board voted to approve the basic OSSBA contract and authorized staff to proceed. No additional services were added in the motion; board members noted the option to add services later.

The search contract vote followed public remarks lauding Dr. Gruenewald's service. The board did not set a public timeline immediately; OSSBA representatives said they will work with the board to develop a calendar and community engagement plan.