Superintendent
search begins
By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
May 14, 2003
Meridian School Board members hired a former state superintendent of education on Tuesday to lead the search for a new chief executive of the city public school system.
Richard Boyd, who heads the Center for Educational Leadership Services based at the University of Mississippi, served as state superintendent of education from 1984 to 1989 and again in 1998.
The school board hopes to replace current Superintendent Janet McLin, who will retire June 30. Board members have not set a deadline for hiring McLin's replacement.
In February, the school board appointed two work groups to assist in the search for a new superintendent.
The groups made up of community leaders, teachers and principals were charged with evaluating school programs and determining what the school district and community should expect from one another.
School board members voted unanimously to hire Boyd's firm for $8,500 plus expenses which could include travel for prospective applicants, Boyd and his firm, as well as advertisements for the job.
John Compton, school board attorney, said the search firm used to hire McLin charged $20,000.
Boyd said his firm intends to ease the school board's burden by narrowing the field of potential candidates to about five applicants. The school board will make the final decision.
Boyd said his firm usually conducts focus groups with teachers and administrators when searching for a new superintendent. But in Meridian, he said, much of that work has been done with the work groups.
Boyd also told the board it should be prepared to pay substantially more for a new superintendent. Boyd said his firm recently helped Hattiesburg hire a new public school superintendent for $160,000 a year.
McLin began work as Meridian school superintendent in 1998 for $97,380 a year; she now earns $103,000 a year. Boyd said the board should be ready to pay about $120,000 a year for a new superintendent.
Fred Wile, president of the school board, said the board plans to meet again with Boyd in the coming weeks to establish a deadline to apply for the job and to prepare a brochure for people interested in the position.
Wile said he was pleased the board was able to get help from Boyd and his firm. He said board members are well aware that a new superintendent will be costly.
