Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Thursday, February 3, 2011

The process of selecting the next superintendent to continue the great work happening in the Fayette County Public Schools began Thursday afternoon when the Fayette County Board of Education met for a more than two-hour work session.  Board members said they hope to have a new schools chief in place to start July 1.

School board members were eager to learn about the process outlined in state law and to hear suggestions about best practices for conducting their search and selection.  A representative from the Kentucky School Boards Association was on hand to advise the board members, who all expressed a desire to find ways to involve all school and community stakeholders in the process.

Two initial steps will kick off simultaneously – the election of representatives to the superintendent screening committee and consideration of a search firm to help guide the process.

According to state law the superintendent screening committee is composed of two certified employees elected by their peers, one classified employee elected by their peers, one principal elected by their peers, one parent elected by PTA presidents from each school, and one board of education member appointed by the board chair.  Preparations for nominations and elections for these positions will begin the week of Feb. 7.  Employees and parents will receive information in the coming week about how they can participate.

The district will also develop a request for proposals from firms and organizations interested in helping with the recruitment and selection of Fayette County’s next superintendent.  The goal is to make a decision on a search firm in March.

Input from employees, students, families and community members will be critical as the school board moves ahead.  There will be opportunities for people to tell board members what qualities they value in the next superintendent and there will be opportunities for the public to meet the top candidates before the board makes a final decision.

Under the leadership of Superintendent Stu Silberman, FCPS has built bridges within the schools and with neighbors in the community. The board of education is committed to conducting this search in a way that strengthens those relationships and attracts a leader who wants to join this amazing team.