The search for Kalama School District’s next superintendent is heating up, with a new community feedback forum scheduled for next month.
Last July, the Kalama School Board selected Kalama Middle School (KMS) Principal Jennifer McCallum to serve as the district’s interim superintendent for the 2023-2024 school year. At the same time, the board made plans to restart the search process for a permanent superintendent later in the year.
Fast forward to today, and that search is well underway. Employed by the board to recruit and vet candidates, the search firm McPherson & Jacobson began advertising the open position last month. Next week, Dr. Steven Lowder, a Vancouver resident and former superintendent who now consults for the firm, will be on campus to speak with school staff in advance of the candidate vetting process.
Lowder will then return to campus on the morning of Wednesday, February 7, to hear from various student groups. Later that evening, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., an open listening session will be held for families and community members to provide feedback. (additional details to come)
“As a board, we need and value community participation throughout this hiring process, which I am happy to report is on schedule and attracting a lot of interest,” said Kalama School Board Chair Wes Eader. “Next month, there will be opportunities for staff, teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders to provide input about the qualities needed in the next superintendent.”
The search firm plans to wrap up the candidate vetting process by mid-February, with finalist interviews and stakeholder meetings scheduled to take place in March.
Eader said the board is on track to have the position filled by Spring Break. The new superintendent’s first official day of work would be on July 1, 2024.
Superintendent search: Key dates
- December 2023 - January 2024: Job post advertised
- January 29, 2024: Search firm listening sessions with school staff
- January 31, 2024: Closing date for applications
- February 7, 2024: Search firm listening sessions with students (AM) and families/community members (PM)
- January 31 - February 14, 2024: Candidate vetting period
- Mid- March, 2024: School board selects finalists to interview
- Mid-March, 2024: Finalists interview with the board
- Mid-March, 2024: Finalists meet with stakeholder groups (school staff, community members, etc.)
- Late March, 2024: Selection of new superintendent
- July 1, 2024: New superintendent’s first day