On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Lynnville-Sully School Board of Directors held its monthly meeting with two discussion items that local taxpayers and school supporters may have an opinion on. After a quick list of action items and administration reports, the meeting turned to a discussion item of school superintendent search. With current superintendent Shane Ehresman’s resignation last month, the board is looking to advertise the 2021-22 vacancy sooner than later. The discussion item focused on will Ehresman’s replacement be a full-time position or part-time position?
With no data available at this meeting, the school board asked Ehresman and board secretary Karla De Cook to gather data on what other districts in the state of Iowa similar in enrollment and budget size to L-S have for the superintendent’s position. De Cook, as business manager for both L-S and Montezuma, shared that Montezuma currently has a part-time superintendent, which she feels works well. De Cook felt that now is the time to look at the position change due to upcoming budget decisions. Questions of what superintendent tasks will be eliminated from Ehresman’s already full-time schedule were left unanswered. A survey of staff and possible community members was discussed, but with little time before the upcoming vote, it will be difficult to conduct the survey.
Some districts share a superintendent through Operational Sharing Agreements, but currently L-S is maxed out on the sharing credits. De Cook mentioned that Montezuma had received part-time superintendent applications from retired former superintendents.
The board set a special meeting for Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the elementary gym to vote on whether the superintendent position will be advertised as full-time or part-time.
Another discussion item included whether or not to hire a search firm to find the superintendent’s replacement. It was noted by board members that PCM and Montezuma both used search firms and that worked well for them. De Cook stated that when Ehresman was hired, there was not a search firm at that time, but a community group was formed and a lot of her time was used. De Cook stated she does not have time to do that this time around. A search firm would cost the district between $8,000 and $15,000. Exact quotes will be sought and brought to vote at the special meeting on Nov. 5.
With more questions than answers during the discussion period, community members are encouraged to attend the Nov. 5 meeting to hear the data gathered and voice their opinion on the superintendent position as well as whether the district should hire a search firm or if there is interest in a community group spearheading the search process again.
