Public to question finalists

By Kelli Weldon

Community members will have the chance to ask Austin ISD superintendent candidates questions at a public forum later this year, according to

the district.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the AISD board of trustees advised staff to set up the forum. The school district has been seeking a new superintendent since Meria Carstarphen left AISD in April to lead Atlanta Public Schools.

The board approved setting an Oct. 20 deadline for superintendent applications, and trustees are preparing for the selection process.

Board President Vincent Torres said Sept. 22 the board will conduct preliminary, private, in-person interviews with candidates and choose two or three finalists who will be invited to a public forum.

After some discussion trustees said there will be no interview committee. Instead, at the public forum members of the community will be able to ask questions using note cards and a microphone, Torres said.

Gary Ray, president of executive search firm Ray & Associates, said the company has a list of about 40 questions from stakeholder groups, so AISD could use those as well.

Trustee Ann Teich said it is important to ask hopefuls questions they did not prepare for to see how they react.

"I really think we need to see how these candidates perform in a pressure situation, because they will be under pressure," Teich said.

After the forum the board will meet privately, talk with Ray & Associates and conduct follow-up interviews with candidates.

Trustees did not finalize dates, but AISD's timeline indicates the board will conduct a forum between Dec. 4 and 7.

More information is available at www.austinisd.org/superintendent-search.