Pickerington schools opens search for new superintendent
Oct 29, 2024
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Pickerington schools are searching for their next superintendent.
Pickerington Local School District has posted its opening for a superintendent, with applications due Jan. 10. The district’s hiring timeline states the first round of interviews will take place Feb. 12 and 13, with final interviews scheduled for Feb. 20. Once a new superintendent is selected, the district said they are expected to begin Aug. 1.
The district is partnering with K-12 Consulting to complete the search, which also assisted with the last two district superintendent searches. The consulting firm says it specializes in assisting Ohio public school districts’ business decisions and offers a six-step plan to hire superintendents.
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Part of K-12 Consulting's plans involve collecting community input. On Nov. 7, the district has scheduled two meetings to hear from community members about what they want from the new superintendent. Both will take place from 7 to 8 p.m., with one at the lecture hall at Pickerington North High School and the other at Pickerington Central.
“Stakeholders will include district administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, community, business and civic leaders,” district representative Jacqueline Bryant said.
The district has also created an online form for invested parties to be able to provide feedback about its needs and what skills are most important in a candidate. On Nov. 15, the district will publish its summary of the feedback, offering potential applicants insight into what stakeholders are hoping for.
The new superintendent will replace Chris Briggs, who announced his retirement in July. Briggs has served since 2017 and will retire Jan 31. Bryant said the district has not yet determined who will serve as an interim superintendent between Briggs’ departure and the new superintendent’s arrival.
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Briggs’ salary is $205,400, a raise he received in tandem with an increased retirement package. The Board of Education approved these changes just two weeks before Briggs announced his retirement. According to the superintendent position announcement, the anticipated base salary for his replacement will be between $190,000-$220,000, to be tailored to the candidate’s experience and education.
Bryant said the district purchased K-12 Consulting's 10-12 week search package at $14,9000, but the firm said it does not invoice anything until a candidate is hired. Further, if the candidate leaves within one year, the company said it will return for a “modest fee” to provide a 4-6 week condensed search to supply a replacement.
Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, including qualifications, a completed application form, a resume, a copy of their Ohio Superintendent Certificate/License, credentials and transcripts and three references. These materials should be submitted to K-12 Business Consulting by Jan. 10.