An Oct. 19 report was given to the board of trustees by consultants from Thompson and Horton LLP. David Thompson, one of the partners at Thompson and Horton, said he is very pleased with the applicant pool.
“As districts get larger, the pool gets smaller,” Thompson said. “We're obviously in the middle of some health issues that are affecting a number of communities. But I will say your brand is strong, and the interest in your position is very strong.”
Michael Moses, also a partner with Thompson and Horton, gave the board a breakdown of the candidates’ backgrounds. Out of the 45 candidates, 36 are men and nine are women, all coming from 10 states.
According to Moses, 28 of the candidates are sitting superintendents, two are interims, and six are deputy or assistant superintendents. The rest are either directors, consultants or principals. Forty of the candidates also have doctorates.
While the district has not yet begun the interview process, a few district parents asked the board to hire a candidate that promotes culture and inclusivity.
“I do ask the board today as you're considering our new superintendent, that they keep in mind that of the city of Southlake’s top 10 employers, CISD is No. 3,” Southlake resident Martha Bloom said. “I encourage our superintendent and our school board to really look at the other employers in our district, in our community, in Southlake and try to keep up with the times and really enrich our school district, and continue to be better.”
The search for a permanent hire comes after current CISD Superintendent David Faltys announced he was retiring after serving the district for 15 years. Faltys’ tenure will end Jan. 4.
While the district continues its search, former Frisco ISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon assumed the position of interim superintendent as of Oct. 15.
CISD’s website states the first round of candidate interviews are expected to begin Oct. 26 with final agreements decided around mid-November.
