Glendive, Montana Schools begin superintendent search

Once again, the Glendive Unified School Board http://www.glendiveschools.com/ has begun making preparations to find a new superintendent for Glendive schools.

Last year, when current superintendent Jim Germann turned in his resignation in November, GUSB formed a superintendent search committee and hired the Montana School Boards Association to oversee the operation.

This did not work.

By Charlie Denison
Ranger-Review Staff Writer

After the first choice superintendent took a position in Laurel and the second choice changed his mind at the last-minute for family reasons, the GUSB found no more options.

Fortunately, Germann signed on for one more year.

This time around, GUSB is determined to do it right.

On Thursday, the new superintendent search committee met in the Dawson County High School board room to discuss issues that need to be resolved and start up "Superintendent Search 2.0."

The new committee consists of trustees Brian Steffen, LaNette Simonton, Steve Zorn, Anne Sadorf and Jeanne Seifert. All five played a part in the superintendent search last year.

Steffen took the committee under his wing, volunteering to take the responsibility of committee chair.
After a short discussion, the committee agreed not to hire MTSBA this year.

MTSBA is a statewide association of public school boards. It provides seminars, legislative representation, legal assistance, personnel services, search services and more.

Despite a $2,000 discount on services this time, the superintendent search committee said there were things MTSBA did for them last year that they can do themselves, and there were communication issues toward the end of the hiring process that MTSBA did not alleviate.

Steffen said it is not necessary to have MTSBA because the committee members understand the interview process, know about background checks and have all hired many people in their own respective businesses.

Simonton agreed. Not only are members of the committee experienced enough to handle these operations, but they’ve already been through it once now and have learned from mistakes.

Everyone agreed in the committee that waiting a month before following the proposed hiring timeline was a mistake.

Last year, the board did screening and advertising in February and conducted the final interviews in March.

"We ended up in the same pool as everyone else," Simonton said.

This year, the committee wants to start screening in January and interview the first week of February.

The finalist for superintendent could then be approved at the Feb. 13 board meeting, Simonton said.
Of course, there is a lot to discuss in the meantime, Steffen said.

Communication breakdowns from last year’s superintendent search were brought up frequently in the meeting, especially in the final steps of the hiring process.

"We didn’t have enough open communication when negotiating contracts with the finalists," Seifert said. "We need to set parameters and have one person be the negotiator."

Simonton took the responsibility of negotiator. This time the committee will have the contract more clearly defined, Steffen said.

As for the interview process, the committee agreed they do not want to use Skype, a software application that allows users to make video calls over the Internet.

"I prefer the candidates come here in person," Seifert said. "It didn’t work out so well for us last time."
Last year, one superintendent finalist interviewed with the board on Skype. He became the board’s second choice and was offered the job, but turned it down.

The committee agreed Skype did not give them the clearest perception of him.

Community turnout to the interview sessions at the DCHS auditorium last year was dismal, Sadorf said. The committee agreed this was highly disappointing and must be improved.

"There were four people there the first night," Sadorf said. "And pretty much no one the second night."

Salary is another issue the committee discussed. Last year they offered a superintendent a salary from $88,000 to $93,000.

This year they are raising the salary from $90,000 to $110,000.

"We’ve got to set this up to where we can have good candidates," Sadorf said.

"We don’t want to waste anyone’s time if they won’t come when they know what we pay them," Steffen added. "Besides, when I was looking for a job, I was much more attracted to ones that listed a salary from the get-go."

The superintendent search committee will present their progress at the Oct. 10 board meeting. It is the board’s responsibility to make motions and carry forward.

Reach Charlie Denison at [email protected].

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