Jackson Free Press

Jackson Public Schools will likely hire a national search consultant experienced with urban school districts to look for a new superintendent.

Board Attorney Dorian Turner recommended that school board members on the Superintendent Search Subcommittee look outside of Mississippi for a consultant to help find a new superintendent. The subcommittee will make recommendations at the next school board meeting Sept. 6.

"We are the only real urban school district in the state of Mississippi, so I think if you were to use some of the local firms ... you might find that they have limited experience in terms of dealing with searches for urban school districts," Turner said. She also said an outside consultant would help with the logistics of advertising the position, gathering community input and setting a timeline for hiring a new superintendent.

The subcommittee voted in favor of hiring a consultant, though they did not specify who it would be. The subcommittee is comprised of board Vice President Monica Gilmore-Love, Secretary Linda Rush, Otha Burton and George Schimmel, with board President Kisiah Nolan an ex-officio--or non-voting--member.

The subcommittee also plans to recommend forming a Community Advisory Committee made up of representatives from organizations that are key stakeholders in the district. The members would tell the board what they think the district's needs are and what characteristics they want in a superintendent. It was not clear what input the committee might have in the interview process, although Schimmel said that in the past the board has made the names of the top three candidates available to the public. Subcommittee members seemed to favor having forums or town-hall-style meetings so that community members could meet the finalists.

The last time JPS hired a superintendent, WAPT reported that about 25 parents and students protested what they felt was a lack of input from the community in the hiring process.

If the board adopts the subcommittee's plan, each board member will select two representatives from his or her ward, and the board will invite organizations such as Parents for Public Schools, PTA, the Chamber of Commerce and the NAACP to send one representative each. The JPS principal, parent and teacher of the year will also serve on the advisory committee, with Turner acting as chair.