Steamboat Pilot & Today

The search to find a replacement for retiring South Routt School District Superintendent Steve Jones takes another step forward today when the School Board is scheduled to approve a compensation package for Jones' eventual successor.

The School Board is expected to take action on a salary and benefits package after meeting in executive session with Janet Bohart, the Craig-based education consultant hired to lead the search.

School Board President Hank deGanahl said he's unsure what the board will decide in terms of compensation for the new hire. Jones, who is retiring at the end of the school year, makes $86,600 a year.

Determining how much the district is able or willing to pay its next superintendent is just one of a number of steps in the search process.

Bohart already has met with a variety of stakeholder groups, including the School Board, community members, the District Accountability Committee, the District Improvement Team and the Parent-Teacher Organization, to identify the characteristics people desire in the school system's next leader. Bohart meets with district employees today to collect their input.

All of the desired characteristics will be compiled into a list that eventually will become a profile of the ideal candidate, Bohart said. That profile will be included in application packets sent to interested candidates.

A screening committee consisting of school and community representatives will review all applications and narrow down the list of candidates to a field of three to five semifinalists, Bohart said. Reference checks will be followed by candidate interviews, likely to be conducted in early-March.

The School Board hopes to have its ideal candidate accept a contract with the district by mid-March, Bohart said.

"We're right on schedule," deGanahl said Wednesday. "(Bohart) is doing an outstanding job."

-- To reach Brent Boyer call 871-4234

or e-mail bboyer@steamboatpilot.com