Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Superintendent Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent search: consultant outlines timeline, stakeholder themes and community forum
Summary
Consultant Dr. Phyllis Pichardo told the board the superintendent search is on schedule, with application screening beginning next week, interviews in October and a potential appointment in November; stakeholder input (about 75 people) highlighted academics, safety, staff retention and boundary impacts.
Dr. Phyllis Pichardo updated the Fairfax City School Board on Sept. 15 about the superintendent search timeline, outreach and preliminary themes from stakeholder input.
Pichardo said outreach in August and September reached roughly 75 stakeholders (about 40 one‑on‑one interviews and roughly 20 online survey responses to date). She outlined the approved timeline: community forum this week, screening of applications beginning the following week, first‑ and second‑round interviews in October, and a target to return to the board with a finalist or appointment in November if the schedule holds.
Preliminary themes emerging from stakeholder conversations included a focus on academic achievement and program innovation, careful budget and resource management given rising tuition pressures, school safety, and staff retention. Pichardo noted concern among stakeholders about the countywide boundary study because changes to county boundaries can alter the number and composition of students in city schools; stakeholders want the city to engage proactively so city students remain prioritized in city schools.
Pichardo described several city‑specific programs and positions stakeholders value — for example, an AVID teacher at the elementary level and a security position — and urged the board to consider those priorities in candidate evaluation. She said the online survey will remain open through Friday at 5 p.m. and a virtual community forum is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.; final themes will be presented to the board in October.
Board members praised the outreach and asked clarifying questions about stakeholder demographics and whether county supervisors were contacted (they were not). Pichardo said she had engaged a cross‑section of city and county officials, school staff, parents, students and other community leaders and will finalize themes after the remaining outreach is complete.
The board did not take action on the search timeline; the consultant asked board members to flag any timeline concerns immediately so screening and interview scheduling can proceed on the approved timetable.
