Ann Arbor school board members Tuesday night hammered out a list of questions for superintendent candidates to answer in interviews next week.
“We looked at questions concerning things like trust and confidence, visibility, student achievements, media relations, handling unpopular decisions, prioritizing budget cuts and working with a diverse group,” Ann Arbor school board President Deb Mexicotte said. “We were really looking at questions unique to our community; questions that will show a strong connection to Ann Arbor.”
Interviews with the candidates for superintendent of the Ann Arbor Public Schools will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, 3205 Boardwalk, because it is a neutral location and is cost effective, Mexicotte said.
Colorado Springs District 11 assistant superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift, New Jersey South Orange-Maplewood School District superintendent Brian Osborne and Derry Township Schools in Hershey, PA. superintendent Richard Faidley will be interviewed beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Eastern Michigan University College of Business Lecturer Henry Hastings, retired Oak Park superintendent Sandra Harris and Roberto Clemente Principal Benjamin Edmondson will be interview beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
Immediately following Tuesday’s interviews, the school board will meet with its search firm, Ray & Associates, to narrow down to two or three finalists.
The board has planned site visits in the finalists' districts for July 10th through July 13th.
“We want to personally connect with candidates to see if they are what the board is looking for,” Mexicotte said. “In some cases a site visit won’t be appropriate because they are a local candidate or are not currently working in a district. For those finalists we might go to their work place or speak with colleagues. The site visit portion will be candidate specific.”
A round-robin discussion will be held on July 16th and July 17th. In the case of a third finalist, the round-robin discussions will be extended to July 18th. Candidates will give presentations, which will be open to the public. They will also participate in public forums that allow community members to provide feedback.
Mexicotte said lunch and dinner meetings with cabinet members, staff and board members and a forum with invited guests will be a part of the round-robin portion of the interview process.
The board Tuesday also discussed the possibility of having candidates do advanced writing on a case study.
On July 17th the board will meet to consider information gleaned in the round-robin sessions and site visits and review original interview notes. Mexicotte said the board plans to select a superintendent on the 17th.
“Interview processes with multiple candidates tend to be very fluid, which is why it’s hard to say exactly what is going to happen,” Mexicotte said. “But we have a plan laid out, and we spent Tuesday night clarifying our process and answering any questions that have come up.”
Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.