School Board starts superintendent interviews

FAYETTEVILLE — The School Board began interviewing its six superintendent candidates Monday, board president Nika Waitsman said.

The Zoom interviews will continue today and Thursday, with two interviews a day and each discussion expected to last about an hour, according to Alan Wilbourn, public information officer for the School District.

The board will meet in executive session after Thursday’s interviews to decide which candidates should advance to the second round of interviews, Waitsman said in a text.

The board narrowed its candidate list from 31 to six during a special meeting Jan. 28.

John L Colbert, the district’s current superintendent, plans to retire this summer.

Here is how the candidate interview schedule looked as of Monday afternoon, according to Waitsman:

MONDAY

• Jonathan Mulford, deputy superintendent — operations, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, Mo.

• Jeannine Porter, chief of marketing, communications and strategic initiatives, Irving Independent School District, Irving, Texas

TODAY

• Keith McGee, superintendent of schools, Helena-West Helena School District, Helena-West Helena

• Brad Swofford, superintendent, Branson R-IV School District, Branson, Mo.

THURSDAY

• Marie Feagins, chief of leadership development and high schools, special assistant to the superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District, Detroit

• Anthony Rossetti, superintendent of schools, Webb City R-7 School District, Webb City, Mo.

The search for the next superintendent started with a planning meeting in September. GR Recruiting of St. Louis led the hiring process.

The base salary for the position was advertised as being “in the range of $275,000” plus a comprehensive benefits package, according to the job description posted by GR Recruiting.

“The final salary for the successful candidate will be negotiated and determined based on proven experience, qualifications, and meeting the Fayetteville Board of Education’s criteria,” the job posting states.

The School District’s enrollment as of this past fall was 10,426.