The Mexico Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) has set a timeline and established the process for hiring a new superintendent.

The BOE was thrust into the position of searching for a new superintendent last week after an announcement from the district that current Superintendent Melissa Chastain was retiring at the end of the school year. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Alan Miles and BOE secretary Bethany Collins have also notified the BOE that they will be leaving at the end of the year as well.

The BOE met in a special session on Wednesday, Jan. 24, to establish whether or not the district would use an outside firm or do the search in-house and establish a timeline for completing the process. Ultimately the BOE decided to search for themselves and wants to complete the process by the end of February.

The district will  post the job with a description by Jan. 29 and the posting will close on Feb. 16. The BOE will establish a committee consisting of teachers, support staff, administrators, and members of the community to help with the process. The committee will review applications and narrow the search down to a pool of at least five people. The five candidates will interview with the committee on Saturday, Feb. 24.

The pool will then be narrowed down to two finalists who will be invited back for a community tour and public introduction. The two candidates will interview with the BOE in the final week of February before making a final decision.

The BOE may have been influenced by comments made by CTA member and teacher Jennifer Barnett. Barnett said she was not representing the teacher’s association and opinions were her own. Barnett, who has taught in Mexico for 11 years, said this will be the fifth superintendent that she’s worked under in her time.

“This is the third time I’ve spoken to the board about hiring a superintendent,” Barnett said.

Barnett urged the BOE to not use an outside firm and to conduct the process in-house with the help of the community.

“My fear is if that (a consulting firm) says here are our top three we’re going to miss an opportunity to at least interview a candidate who is very close to being in that top three,” Barnett said.

Barnett said during the last process there wasn’t much opportunity for teachers and stakeholders to give feedback.

“I think it would be a good idea to put together a committee of district employees to help with the interview process,” Barnett said.

Barnett also said having local ties to the community is important.

“I understand that there’s a learning curve with any person who transplants to Mexico but someone who has ties to the community would have a much easier time adapting than someone who had to Google Mexico Missouri,” Barnett said.

Barnett said involving teachers and staff would also be a big morale boost.

“Involving district employees in decisions that affect us on a daily basis will help us feel heard, seen, and supported,” Barnett said. “That’s what everyone in education needs right now to feel heard and seen and supported.”

Board Members tended to agree with Barnett. BOE Member Scott Nichols said he doesn’t want to use an outside firm, “Because of what happened last time.” Nichols said using an outside firm could be redundant considering how hands-on the BOE wants to be in the process.

“I think if you’re doing that then you’re doing the leg work anyway,” Nichols said.

Board Treasurer Michelle Stephens said it would be helpful to have a superintendent who understands the district’s socioeconomics. 

“We know who our students are and what our teachers are and we have a committee of stakeholders,” Stephens said.

BOE member Matt Pilger suggested surveying the community and said the BOE needs to keep the public involved throughout the entire process.

“I think we need to be very transparent every step of the way,” Pilger said. 

BOE Member Lennette Brown said she’s received some comments about the timing of the hiring considering an election is in April. Brown is running for re-election but is running unopposed. However, there are two other seats on the BOE up for election and there is a race for those seats.

Some on the BOE believe they have to wrap up the process quickly because of the timing of the search. Most school districts looking for superintendents may have a leg up because they started the process earlier.

“Your applicants are actively searching right now,” Stephens said.