As the Orange County Schools district begins a search for a new superintendent, it is also taking feedback from the public on what to look for in candidates.

The district’s Board of Education approved a deal with the North Carolina School Boards Association during a special meeting on October 3 to assist in its hunt for Monique Felder’s successor. The association — which provides resources to local school boards like superintendent search services — will handle the process of advertising the position, designing a ‘leadership profile,’ amassing applications, and arranging interviews with candidates.

To help, the NCSBA and Orange County Schools are allowing the district’s students, parents, and broader community members to share their thoughts in a public, online survey. The form asks people to rank and rate the importance of certain superintendent characteristics and experiences, as well as gives the opportunity to share direct comments on the search process or what is desired in a new superintendent. Orange County Schools employees also have a separate online survey they can fill out to share feedback, which will be emailed.

The survey organizers are also taking written statements from “community groups and organizations,” given them a chance to share group endorsements of leadership qualities and their vision for the next leader of Orange County Schools. Those are required to be submitted directly to Sam Thorp with the NCSBA by emailing sthorp@ncsba.org.

The North Carolina School Board Association will take responses to both surveys until Monday, October 23. The group will then summarize and present the community data to the Orange County Schools Board of Education during its regular Monday, November 6 meeting.

November 6 also represents the end date for superintendent candidates to submit applications to the school district, as recommended by the NCSBA and approved by Orange County. The goal is to have board members review applicants and meet in closed session to pick interview options on November 13. Through that month, the district’s timeline indicates the board members will narrow down candidates before conducting final interviews in mid-December and making the announcement of their new superintendent by December 22. The person will then take office to run Orange County Schools in the new year, starting on January 22.

Felder, who was hired by the district in 2019, announced in July she would be leaving Orange County Schools after closed-door discussions with the board. Hired from the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools district in Tennessee, she arrived in Orange County with the goal of focusing on more equitable decision-making and raising student graduation rates — which are reflected in student data and a strategic plan passed in 2022. After paying Felder north of $195,000 as severance for her two years remaining under contract, the Orange County Schools board hired Dr. Jim Merrill as its interim superintendent.

The survey for Orange County Schools students, families, and community members can be filled out here, with a Spanish language available here. More information the district’s ongoing superintendent search can be found on the Orange County Schools website.

 

Photo via Matherly Collins/The Daily Tar Heel.

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