New superintendent to be named early next year

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Local school officials hope to announce their new school district superintendents to the public next February.

Officials in the Chimacum and Port Townsend school districts set out a timeline this week for their search for a new superintendent, and noted they will be looking for public input as they continue the selection process for a new superintendent.

In September, the school boards from both districts agreed to share an executive search consultant, Human Capital Enterprises, to guide the search process.

The California-based recruitment firm, led by Henry “Hank” Harris, met with school officials earlier this month to start the effort to find a new head of schools.

District officials have since announced that an online survey and focus groups of selected staff, community, students, and parents will be part of the process of gathering information and forming a candidate profile to begin the search process.

Officials announced their timeline this week for the superintendent search.

An online survey was launched on the Port Townsend School District's website (www.ptschools.org) Tuesday, Oct. 19 and will be online through Friday, Oct. 30.

Staff and community meetings are also planned through the end of the month, and officials said input will be used to prepare an "ideal candidate profile."

The profile is expected to be presented at a joint school board meeting Thursday, Nov. 12.

Preliminary interviews with school district candidates are set for Jan. 9 through Jan. 11, with the interviews of finalists to be held Feb. 1 through Feb. 5.

The announcement of the school districts' choice of superintendent is expected to follow sometime in mid- to late February.

Both the Port Townsend and Chimacum school districts hope to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.

Officials hope the online survey will help the school boards determine the qualities that each community wants in their next superintendent.

The "ideal candidate profile" will be used in the screening and interview process, officials said, and interested community members can visit the districts’ websites for more information about how to contribute to the online input process and to stay up to date with the latest news (www.ptschools.org/superintendent, www.csd49.org).