Two search firms present rival superintendent-search plans; board delays selection to August

Two superintendent-search firms — Hazard Young Attea (HYA) and the Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) — gave separate presentations to the Wayne-Westland Community School District Board of Education on the district’s planned superintendent search. Board members asked about internal candidates, outreach strategies, timelines and fees. The board did not select a firm at the meeting and on a 7-0 vote tabled the matter until the board’s August meeting.

HYA representatives emphasized active national recruiting and proposed a three-phase process (engage, recruit, select) with a strong community engagement component, a password-protected board portal for application materials and a two‑year replacement guarantee for any superintendent who leaves within two years. HYA said it focuses nationally but will “hone in on the Midwest” to recruit candidates who match Michigan districts’ context. HYA’s presenters included Mike Ritchie, identified as a vice president with HYA, and Pam Hornberger, who described herself as a former Michigan state representative, former school board member and former teacher.

John Silverick, representing the Michigan Leadership Institute, outlined a Michigan-centered approach. MLI highlighted an established statewide network, a superintendent preparation program (Sups Academy) and guaranteed mentoring for one year after appointment. Silverick described a typical 12–14 week timeline and said the firm’s standard fee is smaller than some national firms’ fees, with optional add‑ons (for example, broader national advertising) available for additional cost. He also described MLI’s process for collecting stakeholder feedback via surveys and focus groups and for protecting candidate confidentiality under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act during application review.

Trustees asked about internal candidates, national versus state recruiting, costs and logistics. HYA said internal applicants are welcome and treated the same as external candidates; Silverick said MLI likewise allows and commonly assesses internal candidates and that some districts opt to evaluate internal candidates first. Board members also raised the question of whether to pay for broader national advertising after reviewing initial applicant pools, and both firms described options for that.

A motion to engage the Michigan Leadership Institute was made and seconded during the meeting. After extended discussion of the two proposals and of MLI’s stronger statewide connections versus HYA’s portal and national recruiting tools, a motion to table the decision passed 7-0, postponing a final choice until the board’s August meeting so trustees could review both written proposals and follow up with questions.

The presentations and the board’s decision leave the formal search timetable flexible; both firms described timelines that would permit a hire before the end of the calendar year if the board pursues an accelerated schedule.