Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the date by which people who want to participate in the search committee must contact Anne Muhme.

The Steamboat Springs School Board wants your help interviewing superintendent candidates.

The Steamboat Springs School District is accepting applications to replace Shalee Cunningham, and as it did when she was hired, would like to enlist the community’s help in finding her successor, School Board member Brian Kelly said.

Kelly said the School Board is looking to form two 10-member subcommittees of district faculty and staff members, parents and community members. He said they will need to be available June 17 and possibly part of June 18. The board aims to have Cunningham’s successor start by July 1.

Interested people should call Human Resources Director Anne Muhme at 970-871-3197 by Thursday. Kelly said they don’t need to prepare anything formal or have any qualifications except an interest in education. He said the School Board will choose the committees from the people who express interest.

Kelly said the School Board posted the vacancy Tuesday. He said one official application has been turned in and about 10 other candidates have expressed interest in the position.

The School Board will accept applications until June 7, Kelly said. He said the board will review them between June 8 and 10, narrowing the list to three to five finalists who will be interviewed by the two committees.

Kelly said the School Board’s goal is to approve a new superintendent by the June 20 meeting.

He said the process is similar to when Cunningham was hired in July 2008, but the timetable is accelerated.

“We’re taking a five-month process and shortening it in six weeks. It’s pretty aggressive, obviously,” he said. “If we get a good pool of candidates out there, I don’t see why we couldn’t proceed with the process as scheduled.”

Cunningham took the superintendent position with the Novato Unified School District in Marin County, Calif. Her last day is June 30.

To reach Jack Weinstein, call 970-871-4203 or email jweinstein@SteamboatToday.com