Oct. 11—When choosing a search firm at their Oct. 15 meeting, Ector County ISD trustees want an organization that can cast a wide net and take the district from good to great.

The board heard from four research companies on October 8. These include HYA Corporation, JG Consulting, the Texas Association of School Boards and Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson PC.

HYA is the company that brought outgoing Superintendent Scott Muri to the district in 2019. Muri announced his retirement in August.

Board President Chris Stanley said the district will search across the country for the next leader.

According to the Texas ISD website, which tracks superintendent vacancies and where superintendents end up, there are currently 75 open spots across the state.

“We need to see what’s out there… These search companies are going to be tasked with going out there and finding that person, that change agent, to come to Ector County and help us,” Stanley said .

He added that what’s “shocking” to him is that a superintendent can only be expected to stay three to five years. “I think a lot of people think in terms of generation, but that’s not the world we live in,” Stanley said.

He said it would be good if the next superintendent had some experience in Texas.

“But I think what we’re finding is that people are working in Texas, going elsewhere, moving around and then potentially might be interested in” coming back, Stanley said.

“I also think when you think about the myth of West Texas, someone is really going to want to come here, and we really want someone who wants to come here,” he added.

What will be most important when choosing a search company, Stanley said, is how aggressive it is. He wants to find the best possible superintendent for the children of ECISD.

“We need to find someone who understands… these children will live in the 22nd century… We need to prepare for 22nd century learning. Their children will live in the 22nd century. Our children will be our teachers. “Our teachers for these children will be our community leaders, and so we need to have someone who can help us prepare,” Stanley said.

He recognized that Muri was very committed. He served on state boards and testified before the legislature. He also participated in local events and visited campuses.

Stanley said those are tough shoes to fill.

“We’re going to find the next agent of change, and we have to go very far,” he added.

When Muri came on board, his goal was to fill vacant teaching positions. The next superintendent, Stanley said, should focus on improving test scores and college, career and military readiness outcomes.

Muri, who attended the special meeting, said ECISD issued a request for proposals and 11 research companies responded. The district’s finance team reviewed the proposals and selected the four finalists.

The companies included HYA Corporation, JG Consulting, the Texas Association of School Boards and Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson PC. The finalists were chosen by the ECISD Finance Department.

Companies had 20 minutes to present what set them apart. Many of them were former superintendents.

The companies have some things in common, like stakeholder surveys and community forums. Stanley said he wants to hear from parents, teachers, students and administrators about what they would like to see in the next superintendent.

HYA’s Jodi Duron said HYA conducted the search that resulted in Muri’s hiring in 2019. HYA has more than 130 associates nationwide.

Duron said 94 percent of superintendents placed in the last 10 years have stayed through the end of their contract.

The process usually takes about three months and everything they do is customizable.

Michael Hinojosa and Annette Tielle appeared on behalf of JG Consulting. Both are former superintendents.

Hinojosa said they use a lot of technology, spend quality time in the district and have a video component where candidates answer four questions.

“We collect information on all searches in the country,” Hinojosa said. “Anyone looking for a superintendent, you can see where they are so we know what the competition is.”

Tielle said that of the firm’s 39 consultants, 33 are retired superintendents.

Planning discussions would begin almost immediately. The timeline presented to council begins this month and ends in February. Applications would close in January.

“You are at a crossroads. You are making the most important decision for this community in the next ten years,” Hinojosa said.

“Everyone is watching you and you have to do it right,” he added. “That’s something the board needs to focus on. You need to be unanimous. It needs to be someone who can fit in here because they’re the face of the community.”

George Kazanas of the Texas Association of School Boards delivered the presentation on behalf of the organization. TASB has conducted more than 800 superintendent searches since 1988.

They have an all-inclusive fee that covers the research process.

They covered the timeline of the search process and said they want to work with all seven school board members. They added a video component to the application process where applicants spend 3-4 minutes answering questions.

Laura Rodriguez McLean and Ann Dixon presented for the Walsh Gallegos law firm. McLean showed up in person and Dixon was virtual. Dixon was also interim superintendent at Midland ISD.

McLean said the selection process is led by the board of directors.

The firm seeks input from the board on which stakeholders should be included in the conversation and then schedules stakeholder meetings.

The company gets the board’s input on the position announcement and organizes all collected application materials for efficient board review, McLean said.

They work with the board to source specific candidates at their request.

Walsh Gallegos organizes meetings with stakeholders. They offer an adaptable process based on the needs and desires of the board and are therefore personalized.

McLean said they have brand reach. Their reputation lends credibility and appeal to the research they perform.

Their customer reach allows them to recruit the best possible candidates, according to the presentation.

The firm has conducted more than 90 superintendent searches in Texas for districts of all sizes.

There are no application services or stables.

They offer in-depth control. McLean said if there is any particular background or experience information, it is carefully reviewed.

Dixon said she is doing all the checks and the company is negotiating the contract.

Stanley said the Department of Finance chose the finalist research firms because financial integrity is “very important” to ECISD.

“We want to make sure that we vet these research companies so that they have a long history of successful research and financial integrity,” Stanley said.