Board outlines timeline, criteria and outreach for superintendent search; online survey tops 150 responses

Consultants Randy Zila and Christy Sinner of McPherson & Jacobson briefed the Steamboat Springs School Board on the superintendent search process and timeline during the Jan. 26 meeting.

Randy Zila said the search team has collected 155 online survey responses so far and will run stakeholder focus groups in the next two days. "By law, we can't post the vacancy without a little more detail in the compensation part of a superintendent salary," Zila said, explaining that posting timing depends on those parameters. The consultants proposed a typical search schedule that includes a public forum and finalist public interviews around April 13–14 and a possible executive session and finalist selection around the end of March or mid‑April depending on logistics.

Board members discussed compensation strategy and local housing considerations for candidates in a high cost‑of‑living mountain community. Consultants noted recent market ranges for comparable districts and said many candidates gravitate toward the top of posted ranges; they also told the board that districts commonly include moving stipends or housing allowances as recruitment tools. The consultants recommended advertising on the McPherson portal, AASA, CASE/CASB and selected diversity networks and said the district should maintain a dedicated portal for confidential application review.

Consultants also reviewed confidentiality protocols for applications and advised the board on interview processes, stakeholder interview groups and logistical steps. Board members agreed to Kevin Callahan serving as the point of contact to receive search communications and asked staff to share contract and compensation details to inform the board discussion at the Feb. 9 meeting.