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Search firm reports stakeholder input and sets March 10 interviews for superintendent finalists
Summary
McPherson Jacobson presented a stakeholder-input summary for the Rapid City superintendent search, reported 421 survey respondents and said finalist interviews are targeted for March 10 with an 8 a.m. start; the board will develop interview questions and consider candidate moving-expense and contract-length parameters.
McPherson Jacobson, the executive-search firm retained by the Rapid City Area School Board, on Feb. 4 presented a stakeholder-input summary and set a timetable for finalist interviews for the district superintendent vacancy.
Dr. Barker (McPherson Jacobson) told the board that the search's stakeholder outreach (a K12 Insight survey and targeted interviews) produced 421 responses that were used to identify priorities for the next superintendent. Common themes across parents, staff and community respondents included: leadership and decision-making ability; strategic, long-term planning; experience and connection to the Rapid City community; strong communication and consistent community engagement; and attention to infrastructure, teacher retention and classroom behavior/academic standards.
Barker said the search team will send a set of suggested interview questions to each board member and asked each trustee to identify five questions from that list or submit five of their own; the firm will compile responses and produce a 20'25 question interview set representative of board priorities. Finalist interviews were set for March 10; Barker said the committee anticipates interviewing three to four candidates and that an 8 a.m. start for interview days was acceptable to the board.
The board discussed standard interview logistics: paying finalist travel expenses (airfare, hotel, meals or mileage for local candidates) and whether to offer a moving-expense stipend for a chosen candidate. Barker said typical moving stipends in comparably-sized districts ranged roughly from $1,500 to $3,000; trustees favored a fixed dollar stipend rather than itemized reimbursements. The board also discussed whether to include a spouse/significant other in orientation activities and whether students (including the newly established student school board) should be included in candidate interviews and community mixers.
Barker said the firm will take board input and prepare final interview logistics, and the search timeline calls for finalist interviews on March 10 and follow-up community events. Board members agreed to provide questions to Barker promptly so the interview set can be finalized.
