News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters area residents are being invited to weigh in on the characteristics they want in a new school superintendent.
The Sisters school board will host a workshop on Monday, December 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the high school Lecture/Drama Room to gather community input on desirable qualifications for the new superintendent.
According to board chairman Jeff Smith, input may include professional qualifications, characteristics, style, level of community involvement or any other aspects deemed relevant by Sisters area residents.
"We'll have available the application that was used when Steve Swisher was hired," Smith noted.
The application form will be available at the school district office prior to the meeting "so we'll have a starting place for this discussion," Smith said.
Swisher plans to retire as Sisters School Superintendent on April 1, 2003. However, he will continue to work past that official date to complete the school year.
Smith said the board is working quickly so that they have a better shot at the largest number of qualified candidates.
"Our hope is to get job announcements out by the middle of December," he said. "Beyond that I'm not sure about the schedule. We'll develop that schedule with our consultants. Our intent is to move forward quickly."
The board is leaning toward using Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) search services -- the same process used when Swisher was hired in 1996.
"The board was very happy with OSBA's services the last time," Smith said.
With the board watching every penny in dire economic circumstances, the OSBA process has another advantage: According to Smith, "it is probably the least expensive alternative."
Smith emphasized that public input is vital.
"We want the public to come. We want their input," he said. "Clearly the superintendent is one of the key leaders in the community and the board ought to listen to the community. This board is committed to doing that."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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