Board Announces Superintendent Search Community Focus Groups; Survey Open for Responses through End of November

11/6/2012

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The Westerville City School District (WCSD) Board of Education today announced an additional opportunity for community members to participate in the search for WCSD’s next superintendent. The search, which began on November 1, 2012, is necessitated by the pending retirement of Dr. Dan Good on June 30, 2013. Persons interested in becoming involved in the process are invited to attend one of the following focus groups:
  • 7:30 a.m., November 26, 2012, Westerville Community Center (Buckeye C), 350 N. Cleveland Ave.
  • 7:00 p.m., November 28, 2012, Westerville Central High School (Media Center), 7118 Mt. Royal Ave.
  • 7:00 p.m., November 29, 2012, Westerville South High School (Media Center), 303 S. Otterbein Ave.
  • 12:00 p.m., November 30, 2012, Early Learning Center (Board Room), 936 Eastwind Dr.

Focus group participants will be asked to answer and discuss questions such as:
  1. What are the major issues that will be facing this school district during the next several years?
  2. What do you expect the next Superintendent to do about the issues listed above? In the first 100 days? First year? Long-term?
  3. Given your responses to questions #1 and #2, what specific personal and professional characteristics, skills and experiences will be absolutely critical for the next Superintendent to be a successful leader in Westerville?
Dr. Dick Caster, a senior school board services consultant with the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), is guiding the search process and will facilitate each one-hour focus group session. Caster has more than 35 years of experience in public education, including administrative roles in five school districts. The search process will include profile development, distribution of marketing materials through print and electronic media, aggressive recruitment, a professional pre-screening, reference checking and interviews. The deadline for application is December 11, 2012. OSBA has served public education for over 57 years and has assisted in approximately 800 superintendent and treasurer searches.

The Board of Education last week also announced and encouraged community members to complete a brief survey regarding the superintendent search. Surveys are available at every district school and office, as well as online at www.wcsoh.org. Responses will be accepted through the end of the day on November 30, 2012. The district’s website includes a Superintendent Search section for community members who would like to remain informed about the search status.