Four superintendent search firms presented proposals to the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees Thursday.
Whatever firm is chosen will help the board look for a school chief to replace Scott Muri, who announced his retirement in August.
Muri, who attended the special meeting, said ECISD issued a request for proposals and 11 search firms responded. The district finance team went through the proposals and selected the four finalists.
The firms included HYA Corporation, JG Consulting, the Texas Association of School Boards and Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson P.C.
Next Tuesday, the board is expected to vote on the firm they choose.
Firms had 20 minutes to present what made them stand out. Many of them were former superintendents.
The firms have some things in common such as stakeholder surveys and community forums.
Jodi Duron of HYA said HYA conducted the search that resulted in Muri’s hiring in 2019. HYA has more than 130 associates nationwide.
Duron said 94 percent of the superintendents placed in the last 10 years have stayed the full term of their contract.
The process generally takes about three months and everything they do is customizable.
Michael Hinojosa and Annette Tielle appeared on behalf of JG Consulting. Both are former superintendents.
Hinojosa said they use lots of technology, spend quality time in the district and have a video component where candidates answer four questions.
“We collect information on all searches in the country,” H
inojosa said. “Anybody that’s searching for a superintendent, you can see where they are so we know what the competition is.”
Tielle said out of 39 consultants in the firm 33 are retired superintendents.
Planning discussions would start almost immediately. The timeline shown to the board starts this month and ends in February. Applications would close in January.
“You’re at a crossroad. You’re making the most important decision for this community in the next 10 years,” Hinojosa said.
“Everybody’s watching you and you’ve got to get this right,” he added. “This is something you as a board need to be focused on. You need to be unanimous
It’s got to be someone that can fit in here because they are the face … of the community.”
George Kazanas of the Texas Association of School Boards presented on behalf of the organizations. TASB has conducted more than 800 superintendent searches since 1988.
They have an all-inclusive fee that covers the search process.
They covered the timeline for the search process and said they want to work with all seven school board members. They have added a video component to the application process where candidates spend 3 to 4 minutes answering questions.
Laura Rodriguez McLean and Ann Dixon presented for the Walsh Gallegos law firm. McLean presented in person and Dixon was virtual. Dixon was an interim superintendent at Midland ISD as well.
McLean said the selection process is board driven.
The firm solicits board input on which stakeholders should be included in the conversation and then hold stakeholder meetings.
The firm obtains board input on advertising the position and organize all collected application materials to be efficiently reviewed by the board, McLean said.
They work with the board to seek out particular candidates at its request.
Walsh Gallegos holds stakeholders meetings. They offer an adaptable process based on the needs and wants of the board and they are therefore personalized.
McLean said they have a brand reach. Their reputation lends credibility and appeal to the searches they conduct.
Their client reach allows them to recruit the best candidates possible, according to the presentation.
The firm has conducted more than 90 superintendent searches in Texas for districts of all sizes.
There are no applicant services or stable.
They offer thorough vetting. McLean said if there is particular information about background or experience, it does get thoroughly vetted.
Dixon said she does all the vetting and the firm negotiates the contract.
