Board narrows general counsel selection; discussion to move a finalist forward at tonight’s meeting

The Polk County School Board spent part of its April 22 work session reviewing finalists for the board’s general counsel position and discussing next steps to select and negotiate with a preferred candidate.

Board consultants said they had completed a multi‑stage recruitment that included written materials, presentations, one‑on‑one interviews and public interviews. Doug Thomas, serving as the board’s search consultant for this search, summarized the process and told members that robust reference and background checks — including criminal history, driver and academic verifications — had been completed and that no issues of concern were found.

Board members discussed candidate strengths and fit. Several members praised the finalists’ qualifications; one board member explicitly said they would recommend that Jim Green be put forward as the board’s candidate. Board members also discussed logistics for bringing a candidate under contract: Thomas and staff recommended that if the board reaches consensus, the board could empower the board chair (or a designated board member) and the interim school‑board attorney to negotiate final contract terms on the board’s behalf and return the proposed contract for full board approval. The consultant said the candidate pool remains committed and no candidate had withdrawn after the public interviews.

Ending: The board signaled it would make a candidate recommendation during the board’s regular meeting and asked the consultant and staff to stand ready to negotiate a contract for return to the board for formal approval.