Steamboat Pilot & Today

The South Routt School Board on Thursday approved the parameters of a compensation package to offer its next superintendent.

After emerging from a 15-minute executive session with education consultant Janet Bohart, the School Board unanimously approved a salary and benefits package that will pay Superintendent Steve Jones' successor a minimum of $85,000 a year.

Jones, who makes $86,600 a year, is retiring at the end of the school year, and the district is in the middle of a search process that eventually will identify his successor. Bohart was hired by the School Board to lead the search, which will include consideration of internal and external candidates.

The School Board will offer its chosen candidate the same benefits package given to Jones, as well as a negotiable relocation fee. The contract will be for one year of employment with the potential of a renewal in February 2006.

School Board President Hank deGanahl said board members came up with the minimum salary based on what other districts of similar size pay their superintendents. The one-year contract is "to find out if we have a good fit" before offering the individual a lengthier extension, deGanahl said.

Also on Thursday, the School Board decided on nine primary attributes it will seek in its next superintendent. The attributes were selected from a list of characteristics desired in a superintendent collected by Bohart through a series of forums with district stakeholders. The board also approved a series of questions that it will ask applicants. The questions are geared toward providing the School Board insight about whether each applicant possesses the attributes it seeks, Bohart said.

The School Board hopes that candidate interviews will take place in early March and that a superintendent will be hired by mid-March.

In other news, the School Board approved a comprehensive financial audit of the district. The audit, conducted by Craig accountant Greg Hamilton using information available as of June 30, stated that the district is in good financial standing. The audit also indicated the district has done an effective job reducing its general expenditures in the face of decreasing revenue during the past several years.

-- To reach Brent Boyer call 871-4234

or e-mail bboyer@steamboatpilot.com