Haslett board finalizes superintendent interview questions and selects five finalists for first-round interviews

Consultant Mark Palmer of the Michigan Association of School Boards led the Haslett Board through a detailed session on superintendent interviews at the May 20 meeting, focusing on interview purpose, logistics and question selection.

Palmer reviewed fundamentals (the STAR behavioral interviewing framework, equalized first-round questions, timing and FOIA transparency of evaluation materials) and advised the board to seek evidence-based answers rather than generic responses. The board debated and refined proposed questions across categories including vision, board relations, communications/community engagement, instructional leadership, staff support, management/decision-making and budget/finance. Members emphasized the need for concrete examples from candidates and discussed reserving deeper, evaluative questions for a second round.

Board members then nominated and tallied preferred candidates from the application pool. Strong consensus formed around five candidates identified by application number: 68, 95, 98, 100 and 125; candidate 25 was discussed as a close alternate. The board agreed to invite the five finalists for first-round interviews; Palmer said he would contact candidates and set up an equalized scheduling process. The board announced special meetings to conduct first-round interviews on May 21 and May 22 at 6 p.m., and final interviews on May 28 at 6 p.m., all at the Haslett Administration Building.

No final hire was made at the meeting; the board's next steps are to confirm candidate availability, finalize the written question list and hold the scheduled interviews.