Hart County BOE Begins Search for New School Superintendent, Hires Outside Firm

The search for a new Hart County School Superintendent is underway.

Current superintendent Jerry Bell is leaving the end of May to take a similar position in another county

In a press release issued Wednesday, the board announced it has hired the firm of King-Cooper and Associates of Thomaston, GA to assist in the search.

The firm specializes in customized and affordable superintendent searches for small and medium size school systems and conducted over 40 successful superintendent searches including a number of north Georgia school systems in recent years.

Search services will include advertising the position, receiving and processing applications, verifying reference and background information, sorting applications based on the Board’s selection criteria, and the scheduling and facilitation of interviews.

“Our job is to secure a strong pool of applicants and to assist the Board to select the very best superintendent for Hart County,” said Sandy Addis, a principle in the firm who will serve as the lead facilitator in Hart County’s search. “We handle the details of the search and provide the best possible information for the Board to make a good decision but we don’t tell the board who to hire. There will be strong interest in the position because of the positive reputation of the school system, the community, and the Board. Hart County is one of Georgia’s most desirable and attractive school systems.”

Meantime, the Hart County School Board has decided to accept applications for the position until June 26, 2015.

The vacancy is being advertised by electronic postings on the school system web site, the search firm’s web site, and on the web sites of the Georgia School Superintendents Association and the Georgia School Boards Association.

Additionally, the search firm has mailed notices of the vacancy to all school districts and Regional Educational Service Agencies in the state.

The School Board is also conducting surveys of community members and employees to determine what characteristics and qualifications the community and school system employees think are most important in the selection process.

A survey for parents, students, and community members will be posted on the system web site at www.hart.k12.ga.us. A similar survey will be emailed to all school system employees.

“We have a great community and school system,” said Hart County School Board chair Stephanie Burton. “This is a very important decision for the Board. Our goal is to select the best possible superintendent for our students, community, and staff. We are using a reputable search firm to make sure that the selection process is impartial, transparent, and produces the best possible outcome for our school system.”

The Board plans to utilize survey results in the interview and selection process to employ a superintendent that meets the needs and expectations of the community.