With the firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates Executive Search (HYA) contracted to begin the search, the Board of Education continues to move forward in their selection of a new superintendent to fill Hubbard’s vacated position.

At the regular Dec. 10 meeting, the Board approved the contract hiring the firm. Associates Bill Levinson and Barbara Young, both former superintendents and Young a former Havens teacher, presented their preliminary plans to the community and Board.

In the coming months, HYA and the Board will develop a superintendent search process specific to Piedmont. During a special public meeting on Dec. 18, HYA and the Board presented and discussed further plans for the search.

“Community engagement is really important, whether broad community such as faculty and staff, or student perspective, or parents and non-parents,” said Board of Education Vice President Sarah Pearson.

Beginning on Jan. 12, HYA will host an online survey to solicit community input and suggestions for the Superintendent position.

The survey results will be used to develop a leadership profile of eight priority criteria out of 25 possibilites.

“We’re going to actively ask for input and get as many people to fill out the online survey as possible,” Pearson said. “They’ll be spending a couple days in January meeting with different student groups, faculty groups, community members, hearing in small groups what they’re looking for [in a candidate].”

Levinson and Young will be on campus on Jan. 23 to meet with PHS and MHS student groups, including ASB, Pearson said. All are encouraged to participate and share their thoughts.

The results of the surveys and interviews will be presented at the regular public board meeting on Feb. 11, Pearson said.

Using the school’s and community’s input, and the Board’s criteria, HYA will conduct a national search for superintendent prospects. Internal candidates will be evaluated in the same manner as external candidates.

Following their search, and using the Board’s criteria, HYA will reduce their applicants to five or six recommended candidates, Pearson said. Only the Board will know the identities of the applicants.

“The advice we have heard from all the search firms is to keep the process confidential,” Pearson said. “We want openness, transparency and as much engagement as possible, but we understand we need to give the candidates confidentiality if we want the them to put their neck out to apply.”

From HYA’s proposed roster, the Board will select three to enter a multi-stage interview process, meeting with the Board in a variety of environments, Levinson said.

“Ultimately the decision of who going to be superintendent is the Board’s but it’s wise to seek help,” Pearson said.

The Board expects to name the new Superintendent at the March 25 meeting, she said.

“The idea of this process is that it’s not just the Board trying to guess what people want; we’ll be really listening to what people want,” Pearson said.

The online survey will be available at www.piedmont.k12.ca.us, beginning Jan. 12 and ending Jan. 23.