School board hires HYA to lead superintendent search; members agree to fund engagement and advertise $245,000 compensation

The Marion County School Board on Oct. 2 invited Hazard, Young and Atiyah (HYA) to begin a nationwide search for a successor superintendent, directing the firm to start the engagement phase of a four-stage process and signaling majority support to advertise a total compensation figure of roughly $245,000.

HYA Vice President Bill Adams told the board the search will proceed in four stages — “engagement, recruitment, selection, transition” — and emphasized that the first stage is primarily about listening to the community. Senior associate Stacy Adams said HYA plans surveys, focus groups and public forums and will publish a leadership profile and desired-characteristics document for the board to approve.

The board’s decision to begin with community engagement reflects concerns expressed during the session about screening and recruitment. Adams said HYA expects to present a leadership-profile report after engagement; only then will the board be asked to finalize the job profile and authorize broad recruitment. The firm recommended presenting an initial slate of candidates in mid-February and holding the first round of interviews in early March, with a conditional selection possible in late March; formal start…