Austin ISD board begins superintendent search discussion

He noted there are a few board members who have never been through the process before.

"There are some legal issues, some practical issues, personnel issues, all those sort of things that we need to consult with our attorney on tonight so that we know that we're doing them correctly, and then the trustees have an opportunity to ask our board attorney any questions that they may have," he said. "We'll probably spend some time with the superintendent talking through the transition plan, with her and the leadership team but no decisions will be made tonight."

A few community members commented on the search for a new superintendent during citizens communication.

Lupe Ramos, president of the Austin Area Association for Bilingual Education, asked trustees to consider Carstarphen's work on implementing dual-language programming when the search for an interim superintendent begins.

"It would not have been possible without the commitment and effort that you have devoted these past five years," Ramos said to Carstarphen. "And if it is true that you're moving on, the students, teachers and parents throughout Central Texas are losing a great champion."

Gavino Fernandez, Jr., director of District 12 of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said he hopes the board will revisit the process of interviewing for its previous superintendent.

"Learn from that lesson," he told the board. "Use the practices and tools that were effective, and remove those that were not—especially those of keeping us out of the loop. I think that we have an opportunity to select a person that will be able to manage and handle the diverse, unique diversity of this district. Where and how you're going to find someone else as talented and excellent as Dr. Carstarphen, I have no idea."

The board will likely name an interim sometime in the end of April or beginning of May, Torres said. He said qualifications for an interim superintendent are less stringent than those for a superintendent, and the board will likely consider senior leaders within the district.

"One of the things that we want to do as a board is to reach out to our community and make sure that we're in sync with the qualifications that the community wants to have in a superintendent when we go out looking," he said, noting he wants the district to maintain its focus on its facility master plan, budget planning and programs such as dual-language education and social and emotional learning.

Torres said the district will soon launch a website to provide updates to the community about the search for a new superintendent and the process.