Springfield holds community forums to guide the selection of key administrators and head coaches using a “consensus process” where the people in attendance are split into small groups to talk about characteristics and traits they desire in the next employee to fill that role.
“It’s an opportunity to really sit down and have a great conversation about “Gee, what do we really want to see in this position and the person who occupies it next?’ ” said Estrop.
Each small group presents their characteristics to the larger group, and a list of preferred and required qualities is generated.
“We’re trying to get the best fit possible for not only what would work for what we’re trying to do but also externally for what the community is saying they want to see out of the school district,” said Stacey Tipler, director of human resources.
The campus director and the director of elementary education are just two of four key positions the district will look to fill for the 2013-14 school year. A previous community forum gathered input on the athletic director and director of special education. The district hired a search firm for $10,000 to perform regional searches to fill those positions.
The pay range for both positions is $80,730 to $100,152, said Tipler.
Chris Shaffer is retiring from his position after joining the district as SHS’ first campus director in 2009. Director of Elementary Education Dona Starrett has resigned from her position. She previously retired and was rehired.
The district will pay $21,000 for regional searches to fill those positions.
The forums are an opportunity for the community to help guide the district’s selection of some of its top administrators, said Estrop.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to give input on the very front end of the hiring process in terms of what they consider important,” he said.
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