McPherson & Jacobson L.L.C. selected

Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Saturday, March 19, 2011

Fayette County Board of Education members took the next step toward selecting a new superintendent for the Fayette County Public Schools on Saturday, voting unanimously to negotiate a contract with McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. to assist in the search process. Board members also agreed to seek the services of the Kentucky School Boards Association on a consultant basis to provide specific guidance regarding Kentucky’s unique requirements as needed.

“We were very glad to move forward on these proposals and take action prior to our scheduled meeting on March 28, so we could continue to expedite our search for quality candidates,” said School Board Chairman John Price. “Based on the proposals received, we are still on track to have a superintendent in place by July 1.”

Board members evaluated the proposals received from McPherson & Jacobson L.L.C., based in Nebraska, and Ray and Associates Inc., based in Iowa, on eight criteria.  They scored each firm on the areas of competence, capacity, financial responsibility, school district superintendent search experience, knowledge of the Lexington area, knowledge of Kentucky law and regulations governing education, scope of services and cost proposal breakdown.

“We were fortunate to receive two quality proposals, but the consensus of the board was that the proposal from McPherson & Jacobson was more focused and specific on the search process and also included services after the hiring of the superintendent to assist us with goal setting, objectives and team building with our next superintendent,” Price said.

Negotiations will begin this week to finalize the cost, but McPherson & Jacobson’s original proposal included a base cost of $27,500.  Ray and Associates had proposed a base cost of $31,050.  School board members hope to meet with representatives from McPherson & Jacobson to jumpstart the search for Fayette County’s next schools superintendent either March 24 or March 26, 2011.

During Saturday’s meeting, board members also spent time discussing the importance of gathering extensive community input before beginning the search in earnest.

“Board members checked references with other school districts that had used the firms prior to today’s meeting and we were impressed with McPherson & Jacobson’s track record of involving the local community in the process and their transparency during the search,” Price said. “Transparency and community engagement are very important to our board in Fayette County and to the community we serve.”

Board members brainstormed lists of different constituent groups to be invited to share opinions about the qualities they’d like to see in the next superintendent.  Focus groups, public forums and surveys were all mentioned as possible ways to gather feedback.