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Consultant outlines IASB superintendent-search services, timeline and fees
Summary
Jim Helton of the Illinois school board association described a multi-step superintendent search service — surveys, nationwide posting, prescreening and stakeholder focus groups — and said the standard package for Dunlap would start at $9,400 with optional add-ons for additional stakeholder work and interview practice.
Jim Helton, a consultant with the Illinois school board association, presented the association’s executive-search services to the Dunlap CUSD 323 Board on Nov. 15, describing outreach, screening and support steps the group would provide for a superintendent search.
Helton said the association leverages statewide and national networks to recruit candidates, posting vacancies to an 8,000-person email network and broader multi-state portals. He described a standard process that includes a 15-question online survey of board members, staff, parents and community; focus groups; prescreening of 10–12 candidates; and guided interview support for the board. “We’re the only organization in Illinois whose primary goal is to serve Illinois’ boards of education,” Helton said, describing the association’s longstanding statewide connections.
Helton outlined a typical timeline and deliverables: district-specific vacancy brochures, multiple rounds of candidate screening, an optional practice interview for finalists and contract guidance. He said the standard search fee for a district Dunlap’s size is $9,400; additional stakeholder events or on-site practice interviews would increase the cost. He also described a one-year service guarantee: if a placed superintendent leaves within a year, the association will repeat the search at no additional charge.
Board members asked whether IASB had worked with Dunlap previously; Helton said he and colleagues had been involved in the most recent Dunlap superintendent search and that IASB has run dozens of searches across Illinois. Several board members thanked Helton and reserved further questions until the board had time to review the materials. The board did not take action on contracting at the meeting; next steps would be for board members to provide feedback to administrators and determine whether to pursue a formal proposal or request for proposals.
