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Independence School Board hears pitches from two superintendent-search firms; board weighs outreach, fees and guarantees
Summary
The Independence School Board heard competing presentations from McFersonson Jacobson and the Missouri School Boards Association for a superintendent search. Board members probed differences in stakeholder outreach, background checks, price (MSBA $22,000; McFersonson Jacobson $25,900) and post‑hire guarantees; no final contract was recorded.
The Independence School Board heard presentations from two finalist superintendent-search firms and spent nearly an hour comparing their approaches, fees and guarantees, but did not record a final contracting decision.
McFersonson Jacobson, represented by Steve Joel and Dr. David Buck, outlined a five-phase national search model that the presenters said emphasizes robust stakeholder engagement, vetting and post‑placement support. Joel described the package as a "five-phase" process that includes community and staff input, candidate vetting, finalist interviews and one year of post‑hire support. He said the firm’s bid is “not to exceed $25,900” and added the firm offers a two‑year guarantee tied to its post‑placement work.
Joel said the firm customizes searches to local needs and uses tools such as leadership‑behavior assessments and video interviews. "We're about kids... we believe in authentic engagement with stakeholders," Joel said, adding that the firm keeps candidate names confidential until finalists are publicly presented. He also cited a high rate of superintendent retention after placement and pointed board members to retention statistics in the firm packet.
The Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA) team, led by Dr. Janette Coward with Trent Brenmer and Katherine Harrison, pitched a state‑based alternative rooted in MSBA’s statewide relationships and wraparound board development supports. MSBA proposed a flat fee of $22,000 that the presenters said covers recruitment, screening, onboarding workshops, governance training and six months of evaluation support; MSBA said a $2,000 contingency would pay for a repeat search only if certain post‑search supports had been used.
MSBA described active recruiting through state and national networks, a tiered candidate presentation (green/yellow/red) for the board, and a seven‑year social‑media check on finalists. "We are the only association in the state governed by school‑board members," Coward said, describing that governance as an advantage in sourcing candidates familiar with Missouri systems.
Board members pressed both firms on specifics. They asked McFersonson Jacobson for retention numbers after five and 10 years; Joel said the packet shows "about 80%" five‑year retention and the board requested the exact figures in writing. Members asked both teams about background checks and public disclosure of finalist names; both firms said they perform vetting and background checks, with McFersonson Jacobson emphasizing national vetting practices and MSBA noting state‑specific supports such as onboarding focused on Missouri finance and accountability systems.
Several trustees focused on stakeholder engagement and language access. McFersonson Jacobson emphasized the use of in‑person stakeholder days and an online K12 Insight survey it said could gather substantial community input; Joel used a 2,500‑response figure as an illustrative target. MSBA highlighted statewide retiree liaisons and targeted outreach through the association’s networks as a way to reach prospective candidates.
Trustees also compared the proposals’ scope and potential extra costs. Board members noted line items labeled "additional services" in the proposals that could raise expenses (advertising beyond an included package, brochures, travel for candidates), and asked staff to verify which services are covered by the firms’ base fees.
No final vendor contract or formal, tallied vote on a search firm appears in the record. Board members discussed voting procedures and the timing of a decision; a procedural motion to "return" was moved and seconded and recorded as supported, but the transcript does not show a final selection or recorded vote to award the search contract.
The board signaled continued interest in both firms’ strengths: McFersonson Jacobson’s national reach and detailed stakeholder engagement, and MSBA’s local relationships and included post‑hire governance supports. The next procedural step discussed was making a formal motion in open session and recording a vote on a selected vendor.
