Board Requests Community Input in Superintendent Search

What personal qualities or areas of expertise would you like to see in the next superintendent of schools? The Simsbury Board of Education is seeking public input in a new survey and public focus group.

When Superintendent of Schools Diane Ullman announced that she would retire next fall, the search committee began its search for her replacement.

The board is currently conducting an online survey open to the public, including school staff and government officials, to get a better sense of community priorities. The board will also hold a public focus group in April to give residents an opportunity to voice their opinions on the search.

The survey asks participants to anonymously respond to a series of questions about the superintendent search and the state of the town's schools.

The board recently engaged the services of the Connecticut Association of School Boards of Education to assist in the search process. CABE Executive Search Consultant Dr. Randy Collins will be assisting the Board of Education throughout the search.

The focus group is intended to give parents and community members a chance to communicate directly with the board.

"Focus groups are an important part of the process because they are designed to obtain the input of stakeholders regarding their perception of the strengths of the Simsbury Public Schools, the challenges that will be faced by the new superintendent, and the attributes, experience, and knowledge they believe the new superintendent should possess," a recent release said.

The Parent and Community Focus Group will be held in the Simsbury High School Auditorium on Monday April 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Residents interested in participating should contact Katie Wilde at the Simsbury Board of Education via email at kwilde@simsbury.k12.ct.us or via phone at 860-651-3361 to register for the session.

The survey can be found on the Simsbury Public Schools website.