The Marion County School Board on May 22 reviewed the planned procurement process to hire a superintendent-search firm, agreed to use its 2019 request-for-proposals as a base, and authorized district purchasing to circulate possible timelines for the board's review.

The district's purchaser explained the typical search-firm procurement process: release an RFP, allow roughly a month for vendor responses, provide the board with proposals for initial evaluation, shortlist firms for interviews if necessary and negotiate a contract with the chosen firm. The purchaser said a typical calendar for an RFP-based superintendent search is about 12 to 14 weeks from release to firm selection if the board follows a standard timeline.

Why it matters: Selecting a search firm sets the pace for the superintendent recruitment, community engagement and the board's eventual hiring timeline. Given the number of candidates and the geographic reach of national search firms, the board discussed whether to adjust the RFP's timelines and the dates for interviews and evaluation meetings.

Board direction and next steps

- The purchasing lead will distribute suggested calendar options and proposed public meeting dates to the board via email so trustees can confirm availability during the summer and plan an evaluation meeting and possible interview dates.

- The district will advertise the RFP through Vendorlink and local notices and reinvite firms that responded in 2019; a cone-of-silence will be in effect from the RFP release until board approval of a recommendation.

Board members discussed whether to aim for an earlier start date for a new superintendent or a later window; several members said a July 1 start was ambitious given advertising and interview timelines. The board agreed the next step is for staff to provide draft timeline options and for trustees to firm up calendar availability so the RFP release and evaluation schedule can be set.

Ending: The board asked staff to return with calendar options and the draft RFP language for board review; staff said they will circulate potential dates so the board can settle the RFP release and interview schedule before the district posts the solicitation.