The Austin ISD community was active this summer in terms of providing feedback on the ongoing search for a new AISD superintendent, board President Vincent Torres said at the board's Aug. 4 meeting.

After holding 15 districtwide community forums, 52 smaller stakeholder meetings, more than 60 telephone interviews and a tele-town hall meeting, more than 1,500 members of the community have responded to surveys about what qualities they want to see in a new superintendent.

"Our executive search consultants have collected this community input and are using it to develop a profile of the qualities we are seeking in a superintendent," Torres said.

A representative group of students will also have the opportunity to provide feedback through social media, online and in telephone surveys, Torres said.

Timeline

The deadline to complete the survey, which is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, is Aug. 18. Once the profile is completed AISD will put out a call for applications and the deadline will be Sept. 22. AISD will interview candidates in October. In November the district will conduct followup interviews and host public forums for the community, with the goal of the board being prepared to take action Dec. 15 on a new superintendent, Torres said.

"Following this timeline, a new superintendent could begin work in AISD early next year," he said.

Trustees also discussed a pilot program it had introduced earlier this summer to provide added time for citizens communication regarding the superintendent search. No one signed up to speak about the superintendent search at that meeting, Torres said.

Trustee Ann Teich suggested discontinuing the added 30 minutes of citizens communication for now.

"I think we should continue to work on that and bring forth another plan so that it's more effective and then communicate that plan so that people understand how it's going to be done and how it would work," she said.

More information about the district's superintendent search is available at https://www.austinisd.org/superintendent-search