About 25 to 30 residents gathered in the Board of Education meeting room Thursday evening to discuss what qualities and characteristics they feel Oxford’s new superintendent should possess.
‘What we need is somebody that can be flexible enough to accept that the school board doesn’t necessarily always agree with them and they don’t necessarily (always) agree with the school board, but they can work together,? said resident Lindsey Burton.
The meeting was facilitated by Esley Williams, a representative of the Michigan Association of School Boards.
MASB is being paid $7,500 by the district to conduct the search for a new superintendent by securing a group of prospective candidates for the school board to interview and choose from.
Public comments from the meeting, both written and verbal, will be compiled in a report to be submitted to the school board at a later time.
Williams told the audience the application deadline for the position is April 24.
‘Oxford is just a wonderful district,? he said. ‘I suspect you will get 10 to 25 applicants.?
Applications will be screened May 1 during an open board meeting and interviews scheduled for the week of May 7.
It’s anticipated the school board will offer a contract to a prospective candidate ‘on or about May 22,? according to Williams.
The board anticipates having a new superintendent ‘in place and on board? by July 1, the start of the district’s new fiscal year.
Ron Davis, director of Oxford Township Parks and Recreation, asked if the board is permitted to hire someone ‘outside? the education field like a ‘business manager? who could run the district almost like a ‘corporation? when it comes to finances, human resources and public relations.
‘The board could conceivably do that,? Williams said. ‘There are some boards that have hired individuals from the business arena as opposed to the education field. Some boards have hired retired military personnel.?
When asked what ‘characteristics? they would like to see in their new superintendent, the Number One response was someone who’s going to be ‘visible? in both the district and community, someone who won’t ‘isolate? him or herself. ‘There are employees in the district that have never seen our current superintendent,? noted Donna Burton, a secretary at Lakeville Elementary, adding there are ‘kids that don’t know who their superintendent is.?
Some audience members said they want a superintendent who’s willing to live in the district.
‘If somebody enjoys their job as a superintendent or a teacher, they’re willing to move into that community and be part of that community,? said one audience member.
‘If a community pays you, then you need to be a part of that community and give back to that community seven days a week,? Davis said.
Audience members said they would like to see a superintendent who’s involved in the community, shops here and builds relationships here.
One resident noted it would be ‘nice? if the new superintendent ‘could vote in Oxford.?
Other characteristics audience members said they would like to see included:
n ‘A hands-on type superintendent that has a strong work ethic.?
n ‘Open to change? ? Someone who ‘can adapt to our community versus us having to adapt to what they’re used to and their ways.?
n Holds school principals ‘totally responsible? for the ‘success or failure of their building.?
n Has ‘respect? for all employee groups during negotiation processes.
n Visits all the buildings on a regular basis.
n Has ‘good moral character.?
n Good communicator.
n Good listener.
Although the audience provided Williams with lots of valuable input, Davis noted, ‘You can ask for everything you want in a superintendent, (but) the school board ultimately has to keep that person in check.?