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Beloit board outlines interim superintendent interview process; HR reports seven candidates
Summary
The School District of Beloit board approved an interview committee and timeline for selecting an interim superintendent. HR said seven candidates passed prescreening; interviews will be public with deliberations and final selection in closed session. Legal advised against public feedback forms.
The School District of Beloit board set the process on Nov. 4 to select an interim superintendent, approving a committee structure and a plan that keeps final deliberations in closed session.
Board President Tia Johnson said the process will include a prescreening by HR and that the board will retain exclusive authority to vote on any hire. HR representative Missus Almendarez told the board the position posting exceeded the required open period and that “we have 7 currently” in the candidate pool. Almendarez said the district developed screening criteria that prioritize an ability to understand Beloit’s demographics and finances and, preferably, prior superintendent experience so an interim can “hit the ground running.”
The board approved an interview committee that will include a cabinet representative, two building principals (Regina McAllister and Joe Bridal) and a BEA (Beloit Education Association) representative (Melissa Rohrbeck). Nonboard participants will provide feedback to the board and be excused before deliberations. Johnson told the board she had consulted legal counsel and recommended against collecting public feedback forms because such submissions would be subject to open-records requests and could expose the district to legal vulnerability.
Almendarez described interview logistics: candidate interviews may occur in open session so the public can listen; after interviews the full committee will move to closed session to receive verbal feedback from nonboard participants, deliberate, and either make a selection or continue the search. She said contingent offers will be followed by pre-employment checks — background checks, drug screening and physicals — that can take “as quickly as one week” or up to three weeks depending on third-party timing.
The administration also said it is drafting an interim superintendent contract template that will be modified in negotiation with any selected candidate and will release a press announcement after background checks and vetting are complete. Dr. Garrison was cited as coordinating transition planning to maintain continuity of district work during any leadership change.
The board did not vote on a candidate Nov. 4; members directed administration to proceed with the prescreening and interview scheduling and to provide updates on timelines and logistics to the board.
