Beatrice School Board Examines Superintendent Search Process, With Consultant

BEATRICE -  If all goes well, the Beatrice School Board will make an offer to a new superintendent of the district, by around December 9th. The District 15 Board Monday night met with Baker and Rastovsky, a consulting firm that will be paid $6,000 in the search process for someone to fill the position of Pat Nauroth, who retires from the district next summer. Dr. Roy Baker and Ed Rastovsky are former school superintendents who have forwarded a proposed process to the board for making the selection. Dr. Baker, a State Senator in Nebraska, says the search process would include involvement by the board, school staff, administration and the community. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/10/Search-Plan1.mp3"][/audio] :18                  “much earlier” The position will be advertised later this month and in early November.  Baker says the plan is to eventually bring four finalists for consideration, to the Beatrice School Board. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/10/Search-Plan2.mp3"][/audio] :37                  “everybody is” The Beatrice School Board stated a salary and compensation range for the position, of between $145,000 and $165,000 annually.  Superintendent Pat Nauroth makes about $170,000, annually.  That is the top salary of a half-dozen superintendents of comparable-sized schools in the region.  Salaries at York, Norris, Waverly, Crete and Seward range from just under $145,000 to over $166,000.  Candidate names applying for the Beatrice position will be provided to the board at a committee-level meeting, October 28^th. The school board opted not to undertake part of the search process by itself.  That would have reduced the cost by about $2,000.  Board President Lisa Pieper and other board members favored the consulting firm coordinating the entire process. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/10/Search-Plan3.mp3"][/audio] :09                  “my fear” Baker says typically, a new superintendent hiring includes a minimum two-year contract, plus expenses to help cover their move to a community.  Baker says the names of finalists under consideration for the job would be made public. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/10/Search-Plan4.mp3"][/audio] :31                  “public information” Board members will be providing a list of qualities the district prefers in a new superintendent, and will be able to review information on all candidates applying for the job, by about November 28^th.   The tentative date for applicants to submit materials, is November 17^th. Board members favored conducting all interviews on a single day, rather than going to a two-day schedule.