Pulaski County board hires McPherson Jacobson for superintendent search, engages Education Partners for strategic planning support

The Pulaski County Special School District Board of Education voted Jan. 14 to engage McPherson Jacobson to conduct the district's superintendent search and to solicit a separate proposal from Education Partners for strategic planning and program‑evaluation support.

Board President Mister Delaney introduced representatives from both firms and allowed each to present. Dr. Keith Williams of McPherson Jacobson described the firm's national network and a multi‑phase search process that includes stakeholder input, rubric‑driven screening and reference summaries. Mike Poore of Education Partners outlined a more recently formed firm’s recruitment approach, community engagement plan and optional coaching/evaluation services.

Why it matters: The district must appoint a new permanent superintendent before the next school year while preserving public transparency and broad community input. Board members said a fast but thorough search was necessary because other districts are also recruiting candidates.

McPherson Jacobson told the board it would post the job, recruit candidates nationally, screen using a rubric and present finalists for board interviews. Williams said the firm's searches typically produce a small slate of finalists after written tasks, interviews and reference work, and that McPherson uses veteran consultants and a home office to handle logistics. “We will interview and vet candidates and provide reference summaries and a scoring rubric,” Dr. Williams said.

Education Partners said it would run an aggressive timeline and large outreach and emphasized board training, strategic planning, executive coaching and program evaluation as complementary services. Poore said his firm had already drawn hundreds of applicants for another Arkansas search and proposed an accelerated schedule that could deliver finalists by spring break, with a possible new superintendent selection in April.

Board discussion and votes: Several board members said both firms presented solid options. After discussion, the board voted to proceed with McPherson Jacobson for the superintendent search and to direct administration to negotiate a proposal with Education Partners for strategic planning and program review; any final contracts will return to the board for approval.

What’s next: The board directed staff to return contracts and scope documents for both engagements. If approved, the search firm will begin community input and candidate recruitment; Education Partners will submit a menu of strategic‑planning and program‑evaluation options and fees for the board’s consideration.

Quotes (from meeting): “We will interview them and score them on a rubric so you can see where each candidate ranks,” Dr. Keith Williams said. Mike Poore said, “The recruitment will fit Pulaski County — each community is unique.”

Ending: Board members emphasized speed and transparency. The next public step will be a contract return and, if approved, launch of public outreach and a formal job posting.