The school board interviewed four candidates from a slate of six would-be superintendents Saturday, and will seek two or three additional candidates.
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Four prospective candidates for the superintendent of schools position spent Saturday fielding questions from the Lawrence Township Board of Education, as the school board continues its quest to fill the top administrative post.
The four candidates were chosen from a slate of six would-be superintendents that was recommended by consultants Mark Smith and Carol Conger of Hazard Young & Attea and Associates. The Chicago-based search firm was hired to find a replacement for former Superintendent of Schools Max Riley, who left over the summer for the Randolph Township school district.
School board president Laura Waters said the board got off to a good start, but it also has asked the consultants to return with two or three additional candidates who would be interested in the job. Those names may be provided to the school board next week, she said.
The school board asked for additional candidates because it felt that a pool of four applicants was too small, Ms. Waters said. Although they are a "diverse" group two men and two women the board wanted more candidates from which to choose, she said.
"We want to be sure we are getting the best candidate for Lawrence Township," Ms. Waters said. "We spent a good chunk of time (interviewing the candidates Saturday), but it is still preliminary."
Once the school board interviews the additional candidates recommended by Mr. Smith and Ms. Conger, it will choose two or three finalists for the job, the school board president said. At that point, the names of the candidates will become public, she said.
The finalists will meet with the school building principals and administrators, Ms. Waters said. The details have not been worked out, but it is likely that there will be opportunities for the public to meet the finalists, she added.
Based on a leadership profile distributed by the consultants in September, 140 people who filled out the form indicated they want the new superintendent to be someone who is honest and sincere and who has good communications skills. That person also has the ability to create a climate of trust.
The 140 respondents included school board members, administrators, faculty, support staff, parents and community members. The survey was not a scientific survey, but just a conversation with many people, Ms. Conger said when the report was released to the school board in September.
School board members want someone who has a passion for education, who has a sense of humor and who possesses humility. Administrators seek someone who values staff members and who makes decisions on principles, not politics, the consultants wrote.

