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Board narrows public participation approach for superintendent finalists after survey review
Summary
After reviewing a 251-response public-input survey, the board chose to invite a representative set of stakeholders to finalist interviews and to use a standardized, anonymous feedback form for input.
The Northfield Public School Board reviewed results from the public-input survey for its superintendent search and decided April 6 to invite representative stakeholders to participate in finalist interviews rather than rely solely on the survey or convene separate interview committees.
MSBA consultant Amy Jordan presented survey findings: 251 completed responses (survey open March 10–22) with 53% parents/guardians and 27% staff among respondents. Top technical skills and experiences that rose to the top included budget and finance, collaborative leadership, curriculum development and evaluation, personnel management and educational equity. Respondents also emphasized personal qualities such as ethical leadership, transparency and strong communication.
Board members debated three options for stakeholder input during interviews: (1) rely on the survey as the constituency voice, (2) convene independent interview committees (parent/staff/community panels that would interview outside the board’s process), or (3) invite representative stakeholders to sit in during finalist interviews and submit structured feedback immediately after each finalist’s interview. Citing equity and practical considerations, the board converged on option three and asked administration and MSBA to draft an invite list and a brief, structured feedback form (ratings and a short comment box) for finalists.
"So, I just wanted to offer that I would be more than excited if number three, if we had ... someone like Val or someone in a position where there's not going to be a lot of other people that felt they may — that they were in the same boat as that person," one board member said in discussion about representative invitees and fairness. Administrators described prior practice for principal searches that used similar representative interview groups and an electronic E/M/D (exceeded/met/disappointed) rating form to capture input without elevating one stakeholder voice above others.
MSBA will post guidance and draft invitation lists and requested confirmation of the process timeline so representatives can be notified by mid-April. The board asked that representatives be limited to a manageable number (board members suggested a target between seven and 15, not to exceed 15) and that the feedback be anonymous and summarized for the board to consider during finalist deliberations.
The board also received MSBA interview training covering public/private personnel data, prohibited questions, finalist confidentiality rules and deliberation procedures. MSBA and administration will return with a proposed representative list and the standardized feedback form for board approval ahead of finalist interviews.
