When your school begins the search for a new School Head, the Board should assemble a Search Committee to define and guide the search process, keep the search on task and on schedule, and move the search to closure.
Always keep in mind that this committee’s focus is on making recommendations—the final decision rests with the full Board.
The Search Committee should include five to seven Trustees, appointed by the Board President. The members must be individuals on whom the school can depend to invest considerable time and effort during the search, which can last six months or more.
The Chair of the committee should, ideally, by the person likely to serve as Board President for the new Head’s first two years in office. The relationship between these two leaders is critical, and continuity is imperative.
The Search Committee’s responsibilities include the following elements.
- Develop the search process calendar.
- Prepare an accurate search budget, including the costs of consulting services (if any), surveying constituencies, advertising, and campus visits.
- Write the candidate profile.
- Establish screening procedures.
- Prepare and distribute notices and advertisements of the vacancy.
- Keep the school constituency informed.
- Identify and interview the semifinalists.
- Prioritize the finalists and make recommendations to the full Board.
- Check references, an essential and often overlooked step, even if the résumé and other materials indicate an outstanding candidate.
- Conduct campus and community tours for candidates (and their spouses, when applicable).
- Negotiate salary, benefits, and perquisites with finalists, based on parameters established by the full Board.
- Negotiate the spouse’s role (if any).
- Notify the successful candidate, as well as the unsuccessful candidates.
The Search Committee is instrumental in the process of orienting the new Head and easing the transition over the course of the first year. Developing a strong relationship with the Head is essential to the success of the process!
Additional ISM resources:
The Source for Trustees Vol. 16 No. 2 Respectful and Constructive Board/Head Relationships
The Source for Trustees Vol. 16 No. 3 Key Elements of a School Head Contract
Additional ISM resources for Gold members:
I&P Vol. 32 No. 7 Strategic Planning, Leadership, and Your Next Head Search
I&P Vol. 32 No. 1 The Board’s Contract With the School Head: Solidify Expectations, Define Relationships
I&P Vol. 36 No. 8 Ease the Transition for the Incoming Head
