School district will search for new supe School district will search for new supe (November 12, 2004)

Search firm will cost $20,000 to $35,000

By Huong C. Pham

The Mountain View-Whisman school board decided to conduct a statewide search for a permanent superintendent, authorizing the hiring of a search firm last week.

At their meeting on Nov. 4, board trustees voted 4-1 to hire a firm to assist the district in looking for prospective candidates, said current superintendent Eleanor Yick's executive assistant, Kathi Lilga.

Yick's contract as the district's top administrator will end on June 30, 2005, and she hasn't publicly stated if she wants the job permanently.

The cost in hiring a search firm is $20,000 to $35,000, said board President Rose Filicetti.

Voting against the majority, board trustee Ellen Wheeler said she tried to persuade her colleagues to save money and look internally for potential candidates.

"I am very interested in having a superintendent who will stay with us for more than two years," said Wheeler. "And the best way to see that happening is to solicit local and internal candidates, those who already have a commitment to this area."

Wheeler added that since the school is already strapped for cash, looking internally would save the district money.

The school board will solicit bids statewide and interview two to four search firms at a special public board meeting.

Interviewing and selecting a final firm will take about one month. The search firm will then take four to six months to present potential superintendent candidates to the board.

E-mail Huong C. Pham at hpham@mv-voice.com

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