Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The Colfax School District board heard an update on the search for a superintendent Monday night.
Tom Arlt, principal for Jennings Elementary, who is helping with the search, reported on what he has heard from Dr. Dennis Ray of Northwest Leadership Associates, which the district hired as a consultant.
The job is posted on several education professional-related websites, with Ray’s firm also sending it out to its 3,500-person individual contact list.
In addition, Northwest Leadership Consultants, based in Liberty Lake, has contacted people individually as well as every superintendent in the state of Washington.
“He expects a number of good, strong candidates to apply,” Arlt reported. He added Ray suggested, “interest is not as strong as anticipated.”
Reading from a printed e-mail, Arlt quoted him as writing, “We’re anticipating a strong but narrow pool of candidates for Colfax.”
Ray is scheduled to appear at the school board’s next meeting, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. at the district office. He will report to the boardmembers then.
Arlt, who had earlier in Monday’s meeting noted that the Colfax district is ranked No. 3 in public schools in the state of Washington on the website Schooldigger, suggested that the job is attractive.
“Academically, we’re as competitive as any district in the state,” he said.
The Colfax superintendent’s job opening was first listed Dec. 19 with a closing date of Feb. 23.
In March the school board plans to conduct interviews and will aim to hire a new superintendent by the second week of April.
Northwest Leadership Associates was hired to lead the search for a superintendent Dec. 1.
Colfax High School principal Buck Marsh Dec. 29 submitted a letter of resignation. In turn, board members adjusted the contract with their consultants to also include a search for the principal opening.
The timeline to hire a new principal will stretch longer, by design, so the new superintendent can participate.
Ray’s previous work includes directing WSU’s Superintendent Certification program from 1996 to 2007.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)