The Kent School District Board of Directors is looking for a superintendent who first and foremost has the leadership skills for the challenges of an ethnically and culturally diverse community.
That was the outcome of a meeting this past week to finalize the list of 10 characteristics that will be used to search for a replacement to Superintendent Barbara Grohe, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Though it was not the highest-ranked characteristic to the board itself, which cited “experience in management of district resources” as most important, experience with diversity rose to the top in the results of recent community meetings with residents, teachers, administrators and business leaders.
“Every group said one of the real strengths of this district is the cultural diversity,” said Jim Shoemake, a search consultant with Ray & Associates, the firm hired by the board to assist in finding a new superintendent.
The list of 10 characteristics was developed by representatives from Ray & Associates, the firm hired to assist with the search, and drawn from 12 meetings conducted with various groups throughout the community.
Among the other characteristics is a person who “inspires trust, self confidence and models high standards of integrity,” “will listen to input but can make a decision,” demonstrates strong communication skills, is dedicated to a “student-first” philosophy and can “develop and direct an effective team.”
The final 10 were selected from a list of 32 different characteristics passed out a series of meetings. Each of characteristics was ranked, with the top 10 becoming the search criteria.
There was some differences between the groups, however. For example, union leadership selected the diversity experience as most important while teachers want a leader who will inspire trust and the classified staff leadership team chose a willingness to listen, but to be able to make a decision when necessary.
Shoemake said he was impressed with the final list, which was culled from all groups.
“I personally cannot see any I disagree with in the top 10,” he said.
Board members agreed.
“I think these are pretty strong attributes,” Board President Bill Boyce said.
The board also settled on a salary for the incoming superintendent, deciding on a sum of $240,000 plus health benefits and vacation time, a total that is consistent with similar-sized school districts in the state.
“It’s pretty much right in line with the top 5 (largest districts),” Boyce said, adding that Tacoma’s superintendent is paid the same amount.
According to the board, Grohe’s total compensation package totals $267,000.
Shoemake said the meetings with the community were generally well-attended, especially the meeting with teachers. More importantly, he said, was the quality of responses as opposed to the quantity.
The next step in the search is to advertise nationally for qualified applicants. Shoemake said he expects to receive between 35 and 50 qualified applicants which will be reviewed by the company and narrowed to a pool of about 15 from which the board will make its selection.
“We’ll go national, but we’ll also look in state,” Shoemake said.
The board hired ray & Associates, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in August. The cost of the search is expected to be between $25,000 and $35,000.
Brian Beckley can be reached at 253-437-6012 or bbeckley@kentreporter.com
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