Board opts to pursue direct appointment after community consultation for superintendent

Crook County School District board members voted to pursue a direct appointment of a permanent superintendent following a period of community consultation.

Board staff outlined four options: a competitive search using an outside firm, a direct appointment after community consultation, a direct appointment without consultation, or proceeding to a standard competitive search if consultation does not support appointment. After discussion, the board moved to adopt option 2 (direct appointment after community consultation). The motion passed on a voice roll-call with members recorded as voting yes (including Scott Cooper, Kelsey, Eric, Kevin and others).

Under the adopted approach staff will run a community survey and host listening sessions with unions, parents, students and the public, report results at the March board meeting, and then decide in April whether to authorize a permanent appointment. The chair and staff (Brie and Joel) were asked to collaborate to design and staff the consultation process; the board emphasized that Joel Hopp, the interim superintendent, should not run his own review and recommended independent staffing and a transparent survey process.

Board members said the consultation is intended both to be fair to the interim superintendent and to give the board community input that could identify strengths or areas for further development. No contract was negotiated at the meeting; the next steps are survey design, listening-session scheduling, and reporting back to the board in March.