Cave Creek board hears three superintendent search firms; targets Oct. 14 selection

Cave Creek Unified School District board members on Tuesday heard presentations from three firms pitching to lead the district’s superintendent search and discussed next steps, including a target date to select a search partner at the board’s Oct. 14 meeting.

Arizona School Administrators; Hazard Young Ati and Associates; and McPherson & Jacobson each outlined their recruiting reach, stakeholder-engagement plans and proposed timelines. Board members asked about local knowledge, candidate vetting, guarantees and post-hire support, and directed staff to collect questions for the firms before the Oct. 14 decision point.

The search firms described different mixes of local knowledge and national recruiting. Mark Jorenstad, a consultant with Arizona School Administrators, said ASA combines Arizona roots with national outreach and described a six-phase search he said would emphasize a board-led, transparent process and strict confidentiality. “We will be confidential,” Jorenstad said, adding that the board, not the consultant, makes the final hiring decision.

John Bash, a senior associate with Hazard Young Ati, emphasized the firm’s national experience and a shorter three- to four-month timeline that can be tailored to help Cave Creek compete for candidates if the board wants to hire early in the recruiting season. Bash said the firm provides a board portal to centralize candidate materials and a two-round interview structure that yields semifinalists and finalists.

Jennifer Tanner of McPherson & Jacobson described that firm’s national-local model and a five-phase process that includes recruiting, reference and background work, finalist forums and a post-hire phase. Tanner said McPherson & Jacobson offers a two-year placement guarantee and a structured “phase 5” to help boards and new superintendents establish first-year performance objectives.

Board members asked about cost, timing and guarantees. Superintendent Dolezal and staff told the board that each firm’s fee appeared to fit within the district’s budget and that funding could come from available cash or special project accounts. Board members discussed whether a one-time stipend or permanent pay change would be preferable for other personnel items, and compared the firms’ retention statistics and guarantees.

Several board members said local knowledge and a firm’s understanding of Cave Creek’s recent challenges — including the district’s experience with bond and override elections — weighed into their thinking. One board member said ASA’s local presence “is probably most dialed into who we are,” while others noted benefits to national firms’ broader recruiting networks and McPherson & Jacobson’s post-hire support.

The board invited trustees to submit specific questions for the firms by the end of the week so staff could relay them and return responses to the full board. The board president and staff indicated a formal motion to select a search firm could be placed on the Oct. 14 agenda; if the board approves a firm then, the Oct. 28 work-study session would be used to begin detailed planning with the chosen consultant.

Why it matters: The board must name a superintendent to lead curriculum, district budgeting and community engagement during a period the presenters called competitive for talent. Firms said early recruitment (January–February decisions) improves chances of landing top candidates, while board members emphasized the need to balance deliberate vetting with a timely selection.

The board also used the meeting to review related district items — including recent turf-field construction updates and transportation staffing — but made no formal decision on the search during the session.