PGISD Board discusses new superintendent qualifications
Pleasant Grove’s Board of Trustees met in special session on Tuesday to discuss the qualifications and characteristics of its next leader.
In December, Superintendent Margaret Davis submitted her resignation and said she would leave at the end of the 2012-13 school year.
The Texas Association of School Boards’ executive search firm was hired to conduct the search.
William Smith, a field service representative for Texas Association of School Boards, presented a list of 10 sentences that represent what the community, students and staff would like to see in its next chief.
The TASB will post the list this week on its Website, tasb. org, under executive search services. The deadline to apply for the position is Feb. 11.
Board President John Tidwell said the board anticipates hiring a lone finalist on March 20, making the hire date April 11.
The board made a couple of changes to the wording of the sentences Smith presented.
The biggest change in wording included adding Texas to a qualification addressing school finance and budgeting procedure; removing experience at the central office and adding more precise qualifications addressing technology.
After unanimous approval by the board, the updated sentence states “In concert with the staff, students, and the community, the Board of Trustees has identified certain characteristics and qualifications as highly desirable in a CEO:”
A successful, professional educator with experience as a campus administrator and in a district with similar demographics.
A working knowledge of Texas school finance and budgeting procedures.
A proven track record of implementing and designing modern technology and encouraging its integration throughout the district.
The other seven sentences can be found on TASB’s website later this week.
Texas was added after a suggestion by Board Member Robert Sheppard, a former IRS agent and member of the TASB executive board.
Sheppard was appointed to the TASB Board in April 2007, re-elected in October 2011 and also serves as a TASB Risk Management Fund Board member.
Board members discussed at length the importance of not limiting the pool of applicants by making the qualifications and characteristics too specific.
Board Member Jeff Harris said the culling can be done after applications are received. The rest of the board agreed.
In other business, after the meeting Tidwell said it is time for school board elections. The terms of Tidwell, Place 3, Sheppard, Place 2, and Mark Addington, Place 1, end in May.
Tidwell said he will not seek re-election. Sheppard and Addington plan on running again.
Contact the district offices for more information on submitting an application and the date of the election.