Champaign school board picks firm for superintendent search
CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign school board has decided on a search firm to help it find a new superintendent.
The district will hire School Exec Connect, one of two Chicago-area firms it was considering, said Stig Lanesskog, a board member who has been leading the task of looking at potential search firms. The board is looking to do a national search for a new superintendent to replace Arthur Culver, who has resigned effective June 30.
The board heard presentations from both firms at a special meeting Monday night. Board members were split on which they preferred in a discussion following the presentations. But they continued the discussion following an executive session and settled on School Exec Connect, Lanesskog said.
The other firm the board was considering was Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.
"I think what we found was that both firms had really strong processes and very good networks they were connected into to be able to identify candidates," he said. "That was a really important thing we were looking for. I think either of them could have been good choices and that's why we were really split."
In the end, board members felt the consultants from School Exec Connect were a good match for them, Lanesskog said.
"I think they were the type of people we could have a good working relationship with, which was really important because we'll be spending a lot of time with them and we're relying on them," he said.
The firm will be paid about $19,000 — a fee that was consistent with many other search firms the district looked at, Lanesskog said.
When the firm begins work, its representatives will first talk with Lanesskog and board President Sue Grey. They'll answer basic questions and give the consultants some context about the district and its search, Lanesskog said. Then the consultants will meet with the rest of the board members.
"Their first big task is to develop a profile of what we want in a superintendent," Lanesskog said.
The consultants will start with the board, then talk with staff members and community members, he said.
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I can't speak to when districts generally began the practice, but I searched our archives and find that the Champaign school district used a search firm in 1997 to pick a successor to Tim Hyland (Mike Cain was chosen) and in 2001 to pick Cain's successor, Culver.
Hope this helps.
Mike Howie
online editor
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