The Schuylkill Valley School District board heard a detailed five‑phase presentation on superintendent searches from Jill Hackman, executive director of the Berks County Intermediate Unit, and Mary Franciscus, the IU’s director of human resources. Hackman and Franciscus outlined planning, recruitment, screening, interviews/selection, and appointment/post‑search activities and provided sample advertisements, surveys and interview instruments.

"Choosing a superintendent is one of the most consequential decisions a school board will make," Hackman said, urging a structured timeline and broad stakeholder engagement. Franciscus emphasized protecting candidate confidentiality while keeping the search structure transparent: "The transparency applies to the search structure, while information regarding the individual candidate remains confidential."

During discussion, board members debated whether to conduct the search internally or retain a consultant. The IU told the board that there is no consulting fee for member districts; the only expected expenses are advertising, copying and postage, which the IU estimated at about $750 to $2,000 depending on scope. Board members asked to see all applicant materials electronically and sought assurances that the board — not the consultant — would make final selections.

The board reached a consensus to engage the IU to support the district’s search process and directed Doctor Winters to contact the IU to begin next steps. The IU recommended a typical advertising window of about four to five weeks, stakeholder surveys (including open‑ended questions to identify candidate traits) and a sample timeline that could deliver finalists for interviews in March if the board proceeds quickly.

Next steps: Doctor Winters will initiate contact with the IU to formalize the district’s approach and timeline, and the policy/personnel committee will coordinate how the board wants to handle applicant access, interview composition and salary‑range decisions.