As the search continues for a new superintendent to head the Columbus Municipal School District, the board of trustees — along with the Mississippi School Boards Association — is seeking community input on the qualities and characteristics the next leader should possess.
MSBA, which was hired by the board to conduct the search, will hold a public meeting Tuesday, at 6 p.m., at the board”s Brandon Central Services office. During that time, attendees will be encouraged to stand at a microphone and briefly state what characteristics they would like to see in CMSD”s next superintendent. The comments will then be compiled into a report and presented to the board.
Once the board determines a list of criteria, MSBA will begin seeking candidates who are suitable matches.
Mike Waldrop, executive director of MSBA, stressed that the meeting is not a time to discuss anything other than the superintendent search.
“People need to understand that we aren”t up there to try to correct any issues they may have,” Waldrop said. “Our sole purpose and task is to help the board find a good superintendent … we ask that they be brief, but we”re not going to cut them off unless they start going off on tangents that have nothing to do with what we”re trying to do there.”
While the process of recruiting a new superintendent is essentially the same from community to community, Waldrop said the qualities sought may vary widely.
Roughly a dozen or so character traits will be used to build the candidate pool, and people shouldn”t be in a hurry to fill the slot, Waldrop cautioned.
“It”s a crucial time for the community as well as the school,” he explained. “The superintendent plays a very important part in not only the school but also community relations that center around the school and how that plays into the growth of the community and the town. The thing you need to be most concerned about is not an artificial time line, but being sure you get a good person.”
The board had initially hired recruiting firm Ray and Associates in June to fill the spot vacated by former superintendent Dr. Del Phillips, who resigned to take a position as director of Sumner County Schools in Tennessee.
However, in July, amid controversy over the city school district”s budget, the board decided to drop the firm — and its $15,000 price tag — in favor of MSBA.
MSBA, based in Clinton, had presented a proposal of $9,500. In addition to searching for a new superintendent in Columbus, the firm is also conducting searches for the Starkville, Tupelo and Oxford school districts.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.