The Ector County ISD Board of Trustees voted 6-0-1 to select the Texas Association of School Boards to conduct the search for a new superintendent at their meeting Tuesday night.
Board member Steve Brown abstained because he is a TASB board member.
An exact cost for the search has not yet been determined.
Four firms presented to the board Oct. 8. Along with TASB, they included HYA Corporation, JG Consulting and Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson P.C.
HYA was the firm that brought retiring Superintendent Scott Muri to the district in 2019. Muri announced his retirement in August.
The firms were narrowed down from 11. Top district officials narrowed that to the four firms and the board scored the firms. TASB scored highest.
Trustee Wayne Woodall said the only issue he had with TASB was that they only had one district as large as ECISD on its resume.
Trustees Woodall, Brown and Robert Thayer said they thought HYA and JG Consulting had broader reach.
Board member Tammy Hawkins said she felt HYA had a feel for what the district needed and would have liked to continue with them.
Thayer said HYA brought ECISD a “champion” last time.
Woodall said the cost was a negative for the top two firms. TASB’s cost was better.
Board member Delma Abalos said because they are TASB they have the ability to reach out.
Trustee Dawn Miller said TASB will help with the transition.
Miller said the issue she had with HYA was that they had vetting issues in previous searches. She was not overly impressed.
“For me, the most rounded search options came from TASB,” Miller said.
