Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has selected the search firm Walsh Gallegos to help the district find a new superintendent at a special meeting Feb. 3.
An interim superintendent, Rick DeMasters, was appointed last December after former GCISD Superintendent Brad Schnautz resigned and took a position as executive director of the Region 11 Education Service Center.
What you need to know
The district narrowed the search down to two finalists before making its decision. Trustees selected Walsh Gallegos, a firm that works with 50% of all school districts in Texas, to help them choose their next superintendent. GCISD is currently legally represented by the firm as well, said Paige Kyle, a stakeholder at Walsh Gallegos.
“We have a broad reach and that does help us in our superintendent search,” said Bola Ibidapo, an associate with Walsh Gallegos.
The firm’s main focus is school law.
“Our lawyers work so closely with school boards, and we know about that relationship and what’s important in your relationships with a superintendent,” Kyle said.
What’s next?
Parents and community members will be able to participate in the superintendent selection process. An online search input survey will be sent out Feb. 11. They are encouraged to have the survey completed by Feb. 24.
In addition to online surveys, in-person public input sessions will take place Feb. 16-17.
“It’s a very board-driven process,” said Sherri Bays, an education consultant for Walsh Gallegos. “We have some systems and processes that we have found to be best practices with searches, but a lot of it depends on what you all are wanting as a board.”
The application submission process will end Feb. 27. Candidate interviews will be conducted beginning March 24.
Trustees will vote to hire a new superintendent April 27, according to a timeline posted by the board.
