Laredo ISD discusses fall superintendent search timeline with TASB consultant

The Laredo Independent School District Board of Trustees discussed a proposed timeline and community-engagement plan for its superintendent search after hiring the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to assist the process.

The board heard the consultant's recommendation to begin the search in the fall and name a hire by November, with a 21-day period for naming finalists in October and a negotiable start date for the superintendent, potentially in December. George Casas, consultant with the Texas Association of School Boards, said the plan was developed "with the end in mind" and recommended a planning meeting to finalize the calendar, outreach and candidate criteria.

The nut graf: The timeline and planning process will determine how the district solicits community input and screens candidates. Board members emphasized wanting broad staff and community involvement before the board establishes minimum qualifications and a formal application profile.

Casas outlined steps he typically recommends: a planning meeting with the board to finalize schedule and screening criteria; an online survey (translatable to Spanish) and optional in-person community focus groups; targeted focus groups or lunches with community leaders; staff meetings by role (cabinet, principals, elementary, secondary, support); and two rounds of structured interviews for finalists. "We do suggest interviewing in October," Casas said, recommending structured 90-minute interviews so trustees can compare candidates by asking the same questions.

Trustees asked procedural questions about who reviews applications. Casas said the board can choose to review all applicants in the TASB portal or have the consultant pre-screen and present a smaller set. He also offered to meet individually with trustees to compile their priorities and then summarize common themes for the whole board.

Board President Juan Ramirez Jr. framed the board's priorities: a thorough planning stage that ensures employees and the broader community have an opportunity to contribute. "My first most important critical component is the planning stage," Ramirez said, adding he supported an on-campus and community-inclusive process so staff and residents can "stress out their opinion and their concerns and ideas." Trustee Monica Rangel Garcia and other trustees asked that employee groups be included in the outreach.

Casas recommended the board consider candidates who are sitting superintendents, deputy-level leaders or assistant superintendents and said the planning meeting is the time to set any experience minimums the board prefers. He offered July 21 as a possible date for an initial planning discussion but also agreed to compile emailed inputs from trustees if the board prefers to avoid an additional public meeting.

Ending: Trustees did not vote on a timeline or on required candidate qualifications during the May 22 meeting. The board directed staff and the TASB consultant to continue planning; a future planning meeting or compiled trustee submissions will set the formal candidate profile and calendar.