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South Lane SD 45J3 board agrees to use amended superintendent-search RFP, sets posting and interview timeline
Summary
Board members discussed a draft superintendent-search RFP based on another district's template, agreed to use it with edits, set an Oct. 28 submission deadline, and targeted finalist interviews in mid-November with the selected search firm to begin Dec. 2.
The South Lane SD 45J3 board discussed and largely agreed to move forward with a superintendent-search request for proposals (RFP) using a draft modeled on another district's document. Speaker 3 introduced the sample and said the other district's RFP period closed the same day, prompting review and adjustments.
Board members debated how broadly to advertise and which firms to solicit. Speaker 3 asked whether to restrict the search to Oregon firms or go broader; several members said they preferred firms with proved experience in comparable districts. Budget emerged as a central question: Speaker 4 estimated typical search-firm costs "between 9 and 15,000" and noted budget would be a scored item in evaluations.
The board discussed advertising scope, including whether to keep "regionally and nationally" in the RFP and whether to require print advertising. Speaker 2 urged striking "nationally" and possibly print media to control costs, while others said they preferred to leave options open for firms to recommend outreach strategies.
On evaluation criteria, the draft RFP assigns 10 points to the executive summary, 35 to experience, 35 to the work plan and 20 to budget, a breakdown Speaker 3 read aloud and the board reviewed.
Members identified several prospective search firms (including Northwest Leadership Associates and other regional firms) and discussed contacting firms directly in addition to posting the RFP. The group agreed to correct a deadline typo and set the submission deadline to October 28; they also confirmed the RFP must be posted for 30 days before the deadline.
For scheduling, the board targeted finalist interviews in mid-November (discussion centered on a Nov. 12'19 window) and discussed holding a public meeting shortly after the final interviews to vote on and announce the search-firm selection. The board expressed a preference for the chosen search firm to begin work around Dec. 2 so the process is underway before the winter break.
Speaker 2 raised a counterproposal to delay the full search until next fall, citing legal uncertainties and concern about advertising while an interim is serving; other members responded that the public expects a search and favored keeping the timetable.
The meeting closed with the board instructing staff to finalize edits, confirm posting logistics and come back with clarifications from Judy (a staff contact) and OSBA/COSA on advertising requirements. Speaker 3 said they were "waiting to hear from Judy" on outstanding items and then adjourned the meeting.
The board did not take a formal, recorded roll-call vote during this discussion; members reached verbal agreement to proceed with the amended RFP and the timetable described above.
