FARMINGTON — The search process for a new school superintendent typically takes about three months, according to Steven Bailey, executive editor of the Maine School Management Association.

He outlined services Tuesday night that his nonprofit organization could provide the Regional School Unit 9 board of directors at the Mt. Blue Campus.

The school board’s Administrator Evaluation Committee is responsible for making a recommendation to the full board on hiring administrators.

The board used the MSMA in 2012-13 to help find a new superintendent for the district. Then superintendent Michael Cormier planned to retire June 30, 2013. In 2012, the cost for the association’s help was estimated between $700 and $1,500, depending on need.

Current Superintendent Tom Ward was hired in March 2013. He began his duties July 1, 2013. Ward announced in December that he plans to retire on June 30, 2018. 

“It is your decision to make if you want the Maine School Management Association to help you during the search,” Bailey said.

He then described what the search process is and how association members could assist the board.

The cost is $150 an hour for Bailey’s time, which does not include advertising expenses. He said some aspects of the search are considered complimentary.

Bailey also stressed the need for confidentiality to protect the privacy of applicants during the process.

He outlined what could be done for advertising, surveys and screening of candidates among other services. The association’s team could also help set up surveys to gather input from community members, staff, students and others who would like to participate in providing input on qualities they would like to see in a superintendent.

It will probably be February before the board is ready to advertise and identify key qualifications and experience the directors would like to see in a candidate, Bailey said.

The applications could be sent to the association and would be screened to make sure applications are complete and applicant has required certifications. It is not weeding out applicants, it is just making sure they are ready for you to review, Bailey said.

The last time the board was searching for a new superintendent the Administrator Evaluation Committee did the screening, but the interviewing was done by a larger group of 31 people, board Chairwoman Jennifer Zweig Hebert of Starks said. 

The group, which included at least five community members, was broken into two interview committees, Ward said. They also did a community survey, Hebert said. 

In 2012 the district received five applications in December during the first wave of advertising. Directors reopened the search to see if they could get a larger pool of applicants in January 2013.

Director Iris Silverstein of Farmington said it was very valuable to have Leanne Condon, director of curriculum/assistant superintendent, on the evaluation committee the last time. She left the district last summer.

Hebert said board members need to go home and do some thinking before making on whether they want to hire MSMA to assist them and how they would like to conduct the search. The matter will be discussed at the next board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Forum at Mt. Blue Campus. 

There are currently no funds in the budget directed to a superintendent search. The decision is too important to not have assistance in the search, Hebert said.

Companies that are worth $33 million will find a couple thousand dollars to help find a new chief executive officer, Director Scott Erb of Farmington said. The district’s current budget is $33.9 million.

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