Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

March 16, 2010

TCAPS seeks input on superintendent search

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE

TRAVERSE CITY -- Anyone wanting to help in the search for Traverse City's next school superintendent will have a chance to weigh in this week.

A series of meetings will be held Wednesday to allow parents, students, school employees and other community members to express the qualities they want in a new schools chief to replace Superintendent James Feil who will step down July 1.

The Michigan Leadership Institute, a consulting firm leading the search, will conduct the forums. Separate sessions will be available for students, parents, teachers, administrators, employees and business representatives.

"We wanted a broad spectrum of our community," school board President Marjie Rich said. "Anyone is invited."

The sessions are expected to last from 45 minutes to an hour each. District spokeswoman Alison Arnold said electronic messages announcing the meetings were sent to families Friday, and an online questionnaire will be available this week for persons unable to attend.

A job description for Feil's successor will be based in part on the public's input.

Board members and the public will have to decide what strengths they value in the next leader, Rich said, particularly as it relates to a candidate's background. A career history in business or higher education could offer new perspectives as the district tries to restructure itself, she said.

"Is that something our community is interested in?" she said. "Is that something they would be open to or excited about?"

John Scrudato, president of the Traverse City Education Association, said teachers want a superintendent to have years of classroom and curriculum work and participate in bargaining talks.

Board members tentatively will meet March 25 with consultants to discuss the feedback.

"I'm hoping this time they'll really take into consideration the parents and the teachers and the staff," Scrudato said.

It's important a superintendent have experience at all levels of education, from the classroom to the central office, said Terry Smith, president of the Traverse City Administrators' Association, which represents building principals.

In addition to integrity, honesty and communication, a successful candidate should be open to working with the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District to share costs, said Smith, also principal at Silver Lake Elementary.

If you go

Thirteen sessions will be held Wednesday to gain input about the search for Traverse City's new schools superintendent. People in various groups are invited to attend meetings at the district's administration building at 412 Webster St.

Another session will be held for local business representatives from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce.

The schedule is:

- 8 a.m.: Employees at the administration building on Webster Street, superintendents from other schools in the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District.

- 9 a.m.: Traverse City Education Association representatives, municipal leaders and human services workers.

- 10 a.m.: All elementary faculty and staff, members of current Superintendent James Feil's executive team.

- 11 a.m.: All students, secondary faculty and staff.

- 3:30 p.m.: Traverse City Administrators' Association leaders.

- 4:30 p.m.: Support staff from Traverse City Clerical, Assistants, Paraprofessionals and Secretaries Association (TC CAPSA); Food Service Employees Association (FSEA); Traverse City Transportation Association (TCTA); and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

- 6:30 p.m.: Members of parent-teacher organizations, boosters clubs, the District Advisory Council, last fall's budget committee and a citizens' committee supporting the 2007 bond campaign.

- 7:30 p.m.: General public.

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