USD 464 board reviews superintendent survey and focus groups, sets hiring timeline
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Summary
Consultant Dr. Hubbard presented survey and focus group results that prioritized transparency, communication, teacher/staff support, budget management and academic quality; applications are due Jan. 7, 2026, interviews are planned Jan. 12–16, and the board anticipates a public decision by Feb. 1.
The USD 464 Board of Education spent the bulk of its Nov. 6 special meeting reviewing the results of a district superintendent search survey and focus groups and agreeing on next steps and a hiring timeline.
Consultant Dr. Hubbard told the board the survey 'at a glance' and the full focus‑group draft were available in the board packet, and he reported roughly 552 people participated in the survey. He said student participation was especially high; Dr. Hubbard also ran the results with students removed and found no statistically different pattern in aggregate responses.
"All 7 focus groups said" that a transparent, strong communicator is essential in a new superintendent, Dr. Hubbard told the board. He said the most important leadership qualities identified included being a proactive, forward thinker and having previous superintendent experience or experience in a similar-size district. The single personal quality that emerged most strongly was "honest, trustworthy, with a strong integrity," Dr. Hubbard said.
Dr. Hubbard summarized the five critical issues the next superintendent should understand: teacher/staff support and retention, budget management, educational quality and curriculum, community engagement and transparency, and equal treatment and inclusivity for all students and staff. He said the focus groups included seven groups with a total of 76 participants representing students, certified and classified staff, community members and local partner agencies.
Board members used the meeting to refine priorities and asked Dr. Hubbard to consolidate their input into an 8‑item characteristics list for finalists. Board members were asked to submit three to five interview questions tied to those characteristics; Dr. Hubbard said he will consolidate duplicates, fill gaps, and draft the final interview questions for the board.
Key timeline items announced at the meeting: applications for the superintendent position will be accepted through Jan. 7; the board expects to review finalists and hold interviews roughly between Jan. 12 and Jan. 16; and Dr. Hubbard said he anticipates the board will make a public decision by Feb. 1. Dr. Hubbard also offered to have the district contract reviewed by the KASB legal team and to forward the contract for review at the board's request.
The board briefly recessed into a 20‑minute executive session earlier in the meeting to discuss non‑elected personnel matters and negotiations; Speaker 1 reported there were no actions coming out of that executive session when the meeting returned to open session.
What happens next: Board members will send interview questions to Dr. Hubbard, review his consolidated draft, and convene in executive session as needed during the finalist review and interview process leading to the anticipated public decision by Feb. 1.