The Manitowoc Public School District will ask for help to search for their next superintendent.
The board voted 5-2 Tuesday (January 14th) to contact the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) so they can assist in helping the district find candidates and help in the hiring process.
Board Member Biff Hansen explained that during a committee meeting, he realized that the school board was already behind and that committee members weren’t comfortable with the search being done by themselves.
Hansen says he likes the WASB because they will narrow down who a district is looking for based on their qualifications.
“But they let you look at everybody who applied,” he explained. “So, if 60 people apply, you get all 60 applications if you want to read them. They (WASB) will help you narrow that down to a number that’s easier to interview.”
Board Member Tony Vlastelica added the language of “or another firm” to a motion just in case WASB doesn’t come through.
Board President Chris Able says while he appreciates everyone’s concerns, he stands by the board doing the work themselves and not include an outside firm.
“I believe that wholly,” he said. “I do not believe in handing any part of this off to another group. That was discussed even way back in November during our executive committee meeting. But certainly, the board is a consensus body. So the decision of the board as a body is what happens.”
Former Superintendent Jim Feil resigned from the school board in August last year.
Lee Thennes has been tasked as interim superintendent.
