Board Interviews Head Hunters For New Super

The Quinlan School Board began its search process Monday night for a new superintendent.

The board interviewed two search firms and is expected to hire one later this month after it meets with a third company.

The school board hopes to hire a replacement for Supt. Larry Johnson by the end of May.

The first presentation was made by Mayo Neyland and William C. Smith of Texas Association of School Boards. Smith previous served as superintendent at Greenville.

Neyland told the board, "This is a decision you all will make, and it will probably be the most important decision you will have to make."

He said, "We are consultants. We provide data. We give options. You make the decisions."

Neyland said 30 to 40 applicants would probably seek the position. "Some are not worth a darn, but there are some pretty good folks out there," he said. "We don’t skim off the ones we think are worthy. You will see all of them."

He said they did not operate with a stable of applicants. He said each search was a new search.

Neyland said they had conducted 500 searches for superintendents since they began operations in 1988.

He said the company would prepare a profile of what the district was seeking in a superintendent after meeting with the board, teachers, other employees, the community and students.

Trustee Dennis Earls told Neyland that the board would like to hire someone by June.

"Easy," Neyland answered. He said after the firm was hired, they would hold the initial meeting within two to three weeks.

He said the results were guaranteed. "We will continue the search until you find a superintendent," he said.

The second company — Horn, Smith, Wood and Preston — was represented by three of its four members including Dr. James Smith, Dr. Bruce Wood and Dr. Jenny Preston, all of Terrell. Smith and Preston are married. The fourth, Dr. John Horn, is from Commerce.

Dr. Preston told the board that the firm would seek "harmonious relationships" in the superintendent search.

She said Supt. Johnson’s reputation was known across the county and state. "They are big shoes to fill," he said. "We feel that."

She said one of the unique characteristics of the firm was the fact that it also conducted school board training.

Preston said, "We all know you want that perfect person." She said the board would serve as the point guard and the firm would go out and recruit that perfect person.

She said the community offered a lot of attractive amenities for prospects including Lake Tawakoni as well as a great community and great school district.

She said they would seek the candidate who would commit to the district. "We’re not looking for someone just wanting to build a resume, but we’re looking for someone to love Quinlan."

Dr. Wood also said his company did not have a stable of candidates. "This job is unique to any we have ever done," he said.

He said a lot of great things going on in Quinlan. "Larry has done a yeoman’s job," he said.

Dr. Smith said the key to the search was recruiting. He said the firm limited the number of presentations they made to school boards to provide plenty of time for the search.

After the presenters left the meeting, Trustee Earls asked which one had been the most successful.

Supt. Johnson answered that each had experienced successes and failures.

Board President Kenny Stone reminded that one additional firm would be heard at the next meeting after which the board would make its selection.

All trustees were present except Bill Slaughter.