PR School Board Asks: What Are You Looking for in a Superintendent?

The Pine-Richland School Board is asking the community for input as it searches for a new superintendent.

The board's newly elected president, Peter Lyons, sent a letter via email asking community members to take a survey. The letter also is posted on the school district's website and in this article (below).

Actually, a number of surveys are offered through the school district's website that are geared to the district's "stakeholders"—administrators, teachers, staff members, parents, students, community members. Responders are asked to complete the survey(s) by Dec. 31.

The Pennsylvania School Boards Association's consultants developed the series of surveys.   

Survey responses will go to the PSBA; responses are anonymous.

The school district's current superintendent, effective Jan. 8, after the board voted not to renew her contract when it expires at the end of June.

Lyons' letter also mentions focus group discussions on Jan. 14, but no details were given.

Here is the letter:

Dear Community:

On behalf of the Pine-Richland Board of School Directors, I am writing to inform all the members of the Pine-Richland community that we have officially begun the search for the next superintendent of the Pine-Richland School District.

We have engaged the consulting services of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) to assist us through this critically important project, and already have begun advertising the position. Our focus throughout this search will be on the district's vision of creating a community where learning is challenging, people are inspiring, and students are enriched by their experience.

As we begin this process, we would like your input. To that end, we have asked our consultants to develop a series of surveys created specifically for each of our stakeholder groups. We ask that you take some time to complete the appropriate survey by visiting our survey page  by clicking this link.

Thank you in advance for taking time to share your opinions. We truly value your thoughts and suggestions. All of the information from the surveys will migrate back to PSBA, and responses will be anonymous. The PR School Board will review all of the input as part of a focused effort to gain a comprehensive understanding of the present and future challenges, issues and needs facing Pine-Richland. This information will also serve as a forerunner to focus group discussions on Jan. 14, 2013. Details about the focus groups will follow.

Thank you for your continued service, interest and involvement in the success of the students of Pine-Richland School District. We will continue to provide updates to the school community on the status of the superintendent search.

Sincerely,  

Peter Lyons

PR School Board President