Cedar Rapids school board discusses criteria for next superintendent

The Cedar Rapids school board is likely to seek a superintendent who is accessible, culturally competent, and can lead the district through some change over the next 10 to 15 years, board members and the board's search consultant said Monday.

At a meeting of the Cedar Rapids Community School District's board of directors, superintendent search consultant Bill Attea presented the input he collected in two public forums and several meetings on the search late last month. Attea also discussed preliminary criteria for the district's next superintendent with the board.

Community members, he told the board, are looking for a superintendent who appreciates diversity and is focused on closing achievement gaps; who has a long-term vision for Cedar Rapids schools with a long-term commitment to see it fulfilled; and who will be engaged with the district's schools and community members.

Community members also want someone from an urban setting in Iowa who knows Cedar Rapids, and someone who is a risk-taker but who knows how difficult it is to change things, Attea said.

Attea included input from meetings with 137 people and 398 online survey respondents in a 53-page report on the district's perceived strengths and challenges and the qualities people hope to see in the next superintendent. He met with teachers, students, staff, board members, and members of the public to collect that input.

Fifteen people already have started applying for the position, Attea said, including some who have completed their applications. Attea said he will bring a slate of candidates to the board March 6 if his firm's initial recruitment process is successful.

Current superintendent David Benson announced his retirement in December and will retire June 30.

Also at Monday's meeting, Benson presented an alternative 2015-16 school calendar to the board, based on the state Department of Education's decision in December to more strictly enforce a state law requiring that school start no earlier than the week of September 1. The board in October approved a 2015-16 calendar that would have classes start on Aug. 17. The alternate calendar would start classes on Aug. 31.

The district plans to hold a public hearing on the alternate calendar at the board's Feb. 23 meeting, when the board also would vote on that calendar.

But Benson said if state legislators pass a proposal to allow schools to start the week of Aug. 23, he would bring a third calendar to the board, one likely starting classes on Aug. 24.

Board members Monday also unanimously passed an agreement to pay the City of Cedar Rapids $500,000 over the course of five years to cover architectural costs related to the planned Northwest Recreation Center. The center would be built next to Harrison Elementary School, 1310 11th St. NW.

The agreement was met with some concern when it was brought to the board last month. Board president Mary Meisterling said Monday that she, Benson, and city parks and recreation director Sven Leff had brought the proposed agreement to the district's Master Facilities Plan Oversight Committee, which supported it.