Minneapolis schools taking first steps in superintendent search

By JESSICA LEE

Star Tribune

The Minneapolis school board is planning its next steps in hiring a permanent superintendent, months after Bernadeia Johnson's abrupt resignation in December.

Since her December announcement, school board members — most of whom are new to managing this type of hiring — have been mapping out their plan for permanently filling the position, which includes selecting a search firm and planning community engagement.

"It was a fairly unexpected resignation, so it's not like we had a plan 'B' in our back pocket ready to whip out," Board Chairwoman Jenny Arneson said. "We really needed to come together as a group."

The board is wading through applications from search firms that would help the group with planning community events and facilitating the selection process. School officials are considering four bids right now, and it is potentially opening the application process again so it can review more.

The board is looking for a firm that has a successful history of working with diverse districts with active communities, similar to Minneapolis'. Members hope to finalize the pool of search consultants by the end of April, select one shortly after and work with the party for the following months.

At a full board meeting on Tuesday, members said they'd like to fill the position by the start of the 2015 school year, but the timeline is loose. Some board members said they don't want to leave open such a crucial leadership position for too long.

"I'm worried about our declining enrollment, I'm worried about our kids who aren't making it," Board Member Carla Bates said at the meeting. "We can't go forward with our initiatives without a leader."

While board members agreed that it's important they move quickly with filling the position, many said they don't want to rush the process. The main focus, some board members said, should be selecting the ideal candidate – not meeting deadlines.

Interim Superintendent Michael Goar, who formally served as the district's chief executive officer, wants to keep the job permanently.

Board members said Goar is not a lock for the job and insisted they are conducting a wide search for the best candidate.

"This would be a lot of work if this was a forgone process," Arneson said.

Jessica Lee is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.