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MSAD 35 board plans superintendent search, schedules Dec. 17 workshop to design process
Summary
MSAD 35 board discussed a planned superintendent search, agreed to a December workshop to draft interview questions and stakeholder roles, and weighed using an outside search firm versus an internal process; the board aims to solicit candidates in January with a July 1 start anticipated.
The MSAD 35 school board opened planning for a superintendent search, agreeing to hold a workshop on Dec. 17 to develop a job description, interview questions and a structure for community and staff involvement. The board chair said the district has extended its interim superintendent through the school year and expects a July 1 start date for the next hire.
Board members recalled the last search process, which used multiple interview panels and narrowed an initial pool to two or three candidates for second-round interviews. Directors discussed whether to hire an external search firm (members referenced MSMA and a New England regional service that pushes openings to certified candidates) or to run the process internally, noting trade-offs between broader outreach and cost. One board member suggested using both external outreach and local posting to maximize candidate pools.
The workshop scheduled for Dec. 17 will focus on drafting interview questions, identifying who will serve on screening and interview panels, and how to include advisory input from staff, administrators and students. The chair said the board expects to solicit candidates in January and will work backward from a target hire date to set interim deadlines.
Why it matters: The superintendent hire is the board’s principal personnel responsibility and will shape district leadership and budget priorities. Board members emphasized broad participation and transparency in designing the search process.
What’s next: The board will hold a public workshop Dec. 17; the chair said he will bring cost details for the MSMA search service to the board before members decide whether to use outside assistance.
