Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Superintendent Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board votes 3-2 to hire McPherson Jacobson for superintendent search
Summary
After debating four firms’ cost, Colorado experience and stakeholder engagement approaches, the Steamboat Springs School District board voted 3–2 to direct HR to proceed with McPherson Jacobson’s superintendent search proposal and to authorize staff to finalize the contract.
The Steamboat Springs School District No. Re 2 board voted 3–2 on Jan. 12 to direct Director of Human Resources Katie Jacobs to move forward with McPherson Jacobson’s superintendent search proposal. President Kevin Callahan moved to select McPherson Jacobson; Jane seconded the motion, which passed with Kevin Callahan, Laura and Jane voting yes and Leah and Kim voting no.
Board members spent more than an hour hearing summaries of four proposals from search firms—McPherson Jacobson, Hazard, Young and Attea (HYA), Grundmeier Leader Services and Gregory & Denby Associates—and discussing fees, in-district days, guarantees and how each firm would engage community stakeholders. Jacobs summarized each proposal’s timeline, fee range and guarantees and told the board the firms proposed two- to three-month processes with varying levels of in-district engagement and post-placement support.
Why it mattered: board members said timing and candidate reach mattered as multiple superintendent searches were underway across the region, and several directors stressed that recruiting top candidates would require both broad advertising and meaningful local engagement. Supporters of McPherson Jacobson argued the firm combined Colorado experience, a lower professional fee, and effective stakeholder outreach; at least two board members cited positive past experiences with that firm.
In debate, some board members said HYA’s proposal appeared more detailed and included additional tools (dashboards and a six-month transition academy) and that the difference in cost might be justified by extra services. President Kevin Callahan said the key considerations were pace and value: “There’s a large cost discrepancy… the timeline being pushed back is really the only consideration,” he said. Celine Wicks, who described her experience with district searches and said she was retiring, urged the board to reduce risk and recommended McPherson Jacobson.
Board action and next steps: The motion directed Katie Jacobs to contact McPherson Jacobson to begin the search and to work with the board president on contract finalization; Jacobs said she would connect with the firm the following day. The board did not approve a contract at the meeting; the motion authorized staff to proceed with contracting and stakeholder engagement steps outlined in the selected proposal.
The vote tally was recorded during the meeting: Kevin Callahan (yes), Laura (yes), Jane (yes), Leah (no), Kim (no). The board chair called the motion passed 3 to 2.
Provenance: Discussion and presentations on search firms began in the superintendent succession segment and concluded with the motion and vote (topicintro: SEG 646; topfinish: SEG 1549).
