— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Anne Blankenship Mike Billings and Lyle Schwartz of the search firm McPherson and Jacobson, outlines the proposal to the Webster City school board Monday night. The firm will conduct the search to find a new superintendent for the district as Mike Sherwood has announced his retirement

The Webster City school board took the first steps toward finding a new superintendent Monday night with the hiring of the Omaha-based search firm of McPherson and Jacobson.

Superintendent Mike Sherwood announced last week that he would be retiring at the end of the current school year, so a special meeting was quickly set to hear a proposal for finding his replacement. Mike Billings, formerly superintendent at Roland-Story and Lyle Schwartz, a former South Hamilton superintendent, made the presentation for the search firm. Billings explained that his company’s search process involved four phases with an optional fifth phase.

“The first phase is initiating the search,” he said. “We’ll come out and help you set the criteria. We want to build some consensus on those criteria.”

Billings said the process would narrow the criteria down to four or five and then each of those items would be well-defined to further narrow those benchmarks.

The first phase would also include setting the timeline for the search, establishing the salary range, putting together the job search announcement and gathering information on the district for potential candidates.

Phase II would involve recruiting and securing applications from candidates. Billings said that during this phase, the search firm would talk to stakeholder groups, such as building administrators, teachers and support staff, parents, community members and students. The stakeholders would not only give input for the search, but could also be part of the interview process.

“I would wholeheartedly encourage you to include kids,” he said. “I just think they sell your district. And to be honest, if you want to get a superintendent that will stay a while, they are going to want to see those kids.”

He added that during Phase II, the firm would develop the application, compile applicants’ information, help determine interview procedures and keep the board up-to-date on the number of applications received.

In Phase III, the McPherson and Jacobson would help the board get ready for the interviews. Reference checks will begin and the board will see a short list of candidates, which will be received in closed session, Billings added.

The firm will set up the interviews, calling candidates who are advanced to the final group and will contact those who don’t make the final cut.

Billings said the final phase would involve helping the newly hired superintendent integrate into the district and to help the board and superintendent set performance goals.

“During the next year, we’ll contact the board and we’ll contact the superintendent to check on progress,” he said.

The total cost for the search process is $7,500, plus $500 if the board chose to include the final optional phase. The expenses for Billings and Schwartz would be an additional cost.

After the presentation, the board discussed the pros and cons of handling the search themselves or using a search firm.

Board member Rich Stroner asked former Webster City Superintendent Dennis Bahr how his search was handled back in 1994. Bahr told the board that that process was handled internally.

“I’ve been through this process (with a search firm) and it works,” Board Member Linda Williams said. “What I would think about – is it unrealistic when we consider the amount of money for a such a great and impactful decision we have to make – on who will be the next great leader of this district?

“We need their support. I’d make the motion right now,” she said.

The funds to pay for the search would come from the General Fund, according to Sherwood.

The board voted unanimously to move ahead with McPherson and Jacobson’s proposal and will hold a work session following the Jan. 22 meeting to begin Phase I. The board will also invite representatives of the Stratford and Northeast Hamilton school boards to take part in the search process.