PEA RIDGE — Moving forward in the search for school superintendent, Pea Ridge School Board members approved recommendations from Dr. Paul Hewitt, who was hired to assist in the search.
Hewitt told the board the job has been advertised in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.
“I expect them (applications) to start pouring in the last five days. We have a very short time line and it takes a while to get letters, packets together ... I’ve literally had them come in the last minute. Don’t worry about the number of applicants ... we really want to look at the quality of the applicants,” Hewitt told the board.
“Dr. (Roland) Smith and I will screen the applicants,” Hewitt told the board, explaining that all the applications would be available to the board, but he would try to whittle the number to eight for in-depth consideration.
Hewitt recommended setting time on the weekend of Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, for interviews. He recommended an advisory committee comprised of four teachers selected by their peers, one principal, two to three classified employees, one district office non-administrative employee, the mayor, police chief and press representative conduct one-hour interviews. Questions will be compiled by the School Board. The committee will compile a list of the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates to be shared with the board.
Following the preliminary interviews, the board members will select two candidates to return for final interviews.
Hewitt said the board wouldreserve the right to visit the district of the finalist and suggested setting a special board meeting for March 15 to hire the superintendent and to host a reception to publicly present the new superintendent.
“This is a great job,”Hewitt said, adding that if he were 10 years younger, he would apply. “It’s a great board, a great community. This is a great opportunity ... I’m excited about it.”
“I appreciate the work and the guidance,” Joshua Ramsey, board president,told Hewitt.
“This is awesome,” Ann Cato, board member, said, of the detail in Hewitt’s proposal.
Board members Ramsey, Cato and Jenny Wood were present. Board members Rick Webb and Darin Wright were absent.
News, Pages 1 on 01/18/2012