U-46 to tell search goals for new chief

Findings from ProAct Search Inc.'s superintendent search forums and online survey will be revealed next month, the Elgin Area School District U-46 board decided on Monday.

The open meeting between the Milwaukee-based search firm and the school board will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at district headquarters, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

ProAct consultants held stakeholder interviews and nine community forums in mid-January.

An online survey functioning to tweak the "working draft" of the qualities sought in a new leader is available on the district's Web site, www.u-46.org until Thursday.

The individual who will replace outgoing Superintendent Connie Neale must have a "demonstrated record of fiscal responsibility ... a strong commitment to the values of public education ... and have successfully met the challenges of leading a large, diverse organization," the profile states.

A candidate does not necessarily have to come from an education background, ProAct consultant Claudyne Whitaker said Jan. 10.

"You'd be surprised at how many superintendent candidates come from law and military backgrounds," she said.

Hoping to have a superintendent in place by May, the search firm has begun to advertise the position in newspapers, educational magazines and Web sites.

U-46 will pay ProAct $27,000 for its services, plus up to $18,000 in search expenses, which include background checks on finalists, travel expenses, supplies, advertising and technology expenses.

Expecting 40 to 50 applications, ProAct plans to select its finalists by April. Approximately eight to 10 candidates will be reviewed by the school board.

U-46 used search firms in securing both Connie Neale and her predecessor, Marvin Edwards. This is the first time ProAct has worked with the district.

ProAct will have its results ready as early as Feb. 11, according to school board President Ken Kaczynski. Because of scheduling conflicts of board members, the meeting date was set for the following week.